NEWS: It's Hard out There for a Ho

CULTURE: It's Hard out There for a Ho

The Aphrodite Project has created high-tech platform shoes for the prositute of the future. Outfitted with an Automatic Position Reporting System, an LCD screen for videos and websurfing, and an alarm, the shoes address safety issues streetwalkers face. The Aphrodite Project is inspired by the cult of Aphrodite and a period in which prostitutes performed sex acts in homage to the goddess and roamed the streets wearing sandals leaving a footprint that read: "Follow Me." A prototype of the silver cyber heels will be on view at Eyebeam May 2 through 13. On May 13, gallery visitors can track a lady wearing the shoes as she prowls the streets of New York City and a panel discusses the project.

via We Make Money Not Art

I really like this idea. Sure it may end up being not so popular with a lot of people, but to some it would be a life saver, and I think I'm pretty damn okay with that.

So this will make pimpin' easy?

Having all these buttons on the shoes makes them a little hard to use.

So they'll also have to worry about people killing them for their shoes now. Or they won't, because no one performing an illegal activity is going to wear an item that says "Hey, I'm performing an illegal activity!" and also "Track me!"

this is an awesome idea, but im not sure it will be used. because of the cop-tracking thing

They could make a lot of money just selling those sandals that leave "follow me" tracks.

I'm still trying to figure out what good the lcd screen is going to be. When you're working the streets you're not going to be sitting down looking at your shoe monitor, or bending over to watch it upside down......plus the buttons look huge, i could see those being hit accidently really easy. Over all this idea is retarded!

[Edited on Apr 28, 2006 10:36PM]

Its a great idea that can lead to other ideas or uses that may become very uncomfortable.

Shirts with airconditioners are already out there. Unfortunately I don't know the link.

Wow. Isn't technology something.

I certainly like the idea of promoting sex worker safety, but those who face the most danger on the job won't be able to afford something like this. I'm assuming they would be given to workers for free, but someone still has to foot the bill for all the development and upkeep. Not to mention the problems Keith outlined...

And yeah, really, when and how would they use the LCD screen?

The shoes are definitely cool, but why not just carry pepper spray and a cell phone? It'd be much cheaper and less obvious.

this reminds me of a video that came out right after katrina depicting three gangstas in new orleans attempting to justify the fact that they had just stolen shoes from foot locker. one of them was the talker, and the other two would chime in with three part harmony where it seemed appropriate. it was one of the most tragically funny things i have ever seen. the main guy was saying: "man, the police(backup singers: "the popo"), they stole our shoes(bs: shoooooes), so now we went, and we got us some new shoes(bs: shooooooes)". i almost died laughing and i still use the "shoooooooes" quote all the time. and yes, i can see how these shoes would get stolen quite fast. cuz i mean come on, who the hell doesn't want a pair of shoes that have internet access. suddenly dorothy's little ruby slippers seem pretty fuckin' lame. and how is it that these girls are going to be able to pull this off? all a cop has to do is look for people wearing shoes with lcd's in them, and bam, no more sex for hugh grant. i think that while fucking awesome, these are gonna flop like a cheap hooker's tits while she's gettin fucked from behind.

I HATE BACK BUTTONS



[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 1:48AM]

When some sweaty, hairy john is humping away on top of her, the Prostitute2000 (patent pending) can simply hoist her legs in the air and watch any one of her favorite TV shows until her trick is finished.

Hey MTV- pimp my ho!

Exactly. Has anyone heard of Mao Zedong's Hundred Flowers Campaign?
Ease them into the open... then arrest them


[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 2:39PM]

Awww, look at those shoes! They'll keep prostitutes safe, AND the heels are still high enough to give her massive, permanent back problems! They've thought of everything!

Hahahah.
Bravo.

1. who do i have to blow to get these shoes?
2. so can i link up to suicidegirls on these shoes?
3. is there a compartment i can hide drugs and money from my pimp?


[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 by Xanippi]