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Condoms are important and vital for family planning and, quite frankly, for life in general. They help prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases and although this contraception is already used commonly without widespread complaints, billionaire Bill Gates has offered $100,000 for the person who will take this already working product, and make it "high tech."

The Gates Foundation has announced that it will fund the next innovator who plans on making condoms easier to wear. The award funding money is linked to the Grand Challenges in Global Health Program and asks all entrepreneurs, scientists, and students to devise of a way to make the condom more enjoyable and acceptable for all people coming from different cultures. The condom has been around for decades, and changes in its design have not really happened. However, condoms have gotten more and more commercialized, with so many different types out there for consumers to purchase. However, these condoms and their several different features are still not enough for Gates.  

As a way to inspire and encourage researchers, the Gates Foundation offered a few words of advice.

"Additional concepts that might increase [condom use] uptake include attributed that increase ease-of-use for male and female condoms, for example better packaging or designs that are easier to properly apply. In addition, attributed that address and overcome cultural barriers are also desired."

The product should ideally be even more effective, and it is pretty effective now, and lower the chances of transmitting venereal diseases. The condom would also ideally be harder to tear, preventing accidental pregnancies as well. 

Whether or not the next condom will do wonders for people, the end product will sure be interesting to see.