Sony's Reon Wearable Air Conditioner Saved My Sanity Through Multiple Heatwaves
The Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus is a wearable air conditioning device that uses the Peltier effect to cool the user's blood flow via a metal plate on the neck. The reviewer notes its effectiveness in mitigating discomfort during extreme heatwaves in the UK, where air conditioning is uncommon.
Why it matters
As heatwaves become more frequent, wearable cooling technology offers a niche solution for personal climate control in regions lacking traditional infrastructure.
It looks like an alien is attached to your spine, but it works.
Mat Smith for Engadget Earlier this month, temperatures where I live in London hit 100.6 Fahrenheit. It was the country's hottest day of the year, and part of the third heatwave of an oppressive summer. I am not built for this. The UK is not built for this. Air conditioning remains a rarity outside shops and offices: Research from the University of Reading estimated that there's A/C in just 4.3 percent of English homes – compared with 90 percent of US homes. The trains I commute on don't have it either, nor do many bars, restaurants and other places I visit often. As the second heatwave struck, I was willing to do anything for some relief.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in