Are you an impatient mother who can’t hold onto her diaphragm without worrying if the fetus in her womb will develop sickle-cell anemia? Well no worries, tubby, because Royal Philips Electronics wants to turn those awkward and impersonal ultrasounds into something “much more playful,” says Frank Rettenbacher, a product designer for Philips.

Now, that’s just fucking creepy.  Philips researchers were modeling ultrasound visits after a spa-like experiences.  These weirdos want to cut out the whole lab/doctor routine and outfit your ultrasound experience with ambient lighting and new technologies intended to reduce stress. The ultrasound itself is streamed onto a big, bubble-like screen. These larger, clearer images may help doctors diagnose aberrations early on in the baby’s development, ultimately resulting in earlier treatment. Looks a lot like a night club to me, though. I wonder if Red Bulls will still cost $5…

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