Gashastrap

Gashastrap is a term used in speculative design and fiction to describe a portable, wearable device intended to disseminate gaseous substances. The concept is typically imagined as a belt, strap, or harness that houses a reservoir and a delivery mechanism, enabling controlled release of gas in the vicinity of the wearer. In real-world practice, there is no widely accepted device by this name, and the term is largely confined to fictional or theoretical contexts.

Design discussions emphasize safety, ethics, and regulatory considerations. Proposals focus on nonlethal, non-violent applications such as crowd management simulations or personal safety concepts, while also acknowledging the potential for abuse and harm. Because actual dissemination of gases can pose serious risks, any real implementation would be subject to stringent controls and compliance with chemical weapon and device safety laws.

In culture and media, gashastrap-like concepts appear in science fiction and cyberpunk narratives as portable, sometimes automated agents that deliver substances for deterrence or combat. These depictions routinely explore issues of consent, surveillance, accountability, and the moral implications of wearable chemical devices.

See also: gas mask, chemical deterrents, wearable technology, personal safety devices.