Pinjas
Tech-infused jacket allows speedy donations for the homeless
A group of Dutch designers have created an experimental jacket called "Pinjas" that makes instant, cashless donations to the homeless. The high-tech wearable has a card reader sewn into it so that anyone passing by a homeless person can make an easy donation using their bankcard. The winter coat was also designed in response to the recent spike in homelessness in the Netherlands. Dutch statistics office CBS recently reported that the country saw a 74 per cent increase in homelessness from 2009 to 2015 as a result of the global financial crisis. The jacket’s card reader works with a small interface screen that prompts a potential donator to hold their card up against the screen. A single Euro is then debited from the card holder’s account wirelessly. The wearer can then exchange their credit for meals, a place to sleep or put it towards the application for a skills development course. The system was designed to work with affiliated homeless shelters or welfare institutions.