by . david wilkes . whenever rebecca brown was stressed or upset when she was growing up she would play with her hair for comfort . an inventor has created a terrifying means of using a slingshot to apply a condom - and says it is all in the name of beating sexually transmitted infections . joerg sprave , of the slingshot channel , designed the condom applicator slingshot gun in a light-hearted attempt to win a # 65,000 -lrb- $ 100,000 -rrb- grant from the bill and melinda gates foundation . mr sprave , from burgkunstadt , in germany , created the gadget in response to the foundation 's offer of grants for people who could cut sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies by creating the next generation of condoms . scroll down for video . joerg sprave , of the slingshot channel , designed the condom applicator slingshot gun in a light-hearted attempt to win a $ 100,000 grant from the bill and melinda gates foundation . he created the gadget in response to the foundation 's offer of grants for people who could cut sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies by creating the next generation of condoms . on behalf of the grand challenges in health programme , bill and melinda gates are offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for an idea which could spawn the next generation of condom technology . condoms are seen as vital for preventing unwanted pregnancies and stis but are often shunned on the basis that they are thought to reduce sexual pleasure . therefore , the gates foundation is looking for an idea which leads to the creation of condoms that increase pleasure in the hope this will encourage people to use them . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . they can then prepare the gun for firing before pulling the trigger at close range and releasing the condom at high speed . by the time she was 16 her habit had escalated into a full-blown psychological disorder - which left her almost completely bald . doctors failed to diagnose the condition for five years , simply telling her to stop being a fidget . meanwhile at school she endured cruel taunts and nasty looks from her classmates . scroll down for video . mr sprave has posted a video of the eye-watering device on youtube and in the two days since it appeared it has been viewed nearly two million times . in the video the inventor says : ` the slingshot channel can not stand back when someone poses a great challenge . ` of course there are problems - like the lack of accuracy , and the fear . ` there is pain . ` but of course , it needs some improvement . spelling it out : she wrote the name of her condition on her head to explain it to her online followers . rebecca brown started pulling her hair out at the age of 12 and by the time she was 16 she was nearly bald . when she was 19 the condition got so bad she was forced to shave her head completely -lrb- pictured -rrb- . feeling lost and alone , she started . taking a photograph of herself every day , chronicling her experiences on . ` that is why i need the money . ' he adds : ` nothing fascinates male human beings more than guns and sex so when we combine both you must see the huge potential this has . the internet in a blog and in youtube videos with brutal honesty . to her utter surprise the response was overwhelming -- and to her delight it was supportive . as a result , her self-confidence has grown back -- and so has her hair . miss . brown , now 20 , has become a heroine to thousands of other sufferers of . trichotillomania , a disorder characterised by the uncontrollable urge to . pluck out the hair , usually from the scalp but also sometimes eyebrows . and eyelashes . ms brown took photos of herself every day for five years and posted a slide show of the pictures on youtube . she is pictured in february 2012 when the condition was particularly bad . ms brown -lrb- pictured before she started pulling out her hair -rrb- said : ` some people say trichotillomania is a result of childhood trauma but for me , pulling my hair has been a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am stressed or upset ' her videos . have been viewed 12million times and she receives so much fan mail . online it takes her three hours a week to reply to it all . she was even . mobbed by fans when she attended a conference on the condition in the . us this year . miss brown . said : ` i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their . ` so , come on , pass over the hundred grand and then we will make a product out of this . ' trichotillomania , yet they have n't told their family or friends . i feel . very blessed that people trust me like that . ' miss . brown played with hair obsessively as a child and began pulling out . clumps when she was a teenager . she said : ` i started going to the doctor . about it when i was 13 but they did n't diagnose it until 18 . before i . was diagnosed , doctors advised me to do all sorts of silly things . one . doctor told me to stop fidgeting and another told me to sit on my hands . ms brown -lrb- pictured in 2012 after shaving her head -rrb- said she decided to make the videos about her condition when she realised how little information there was about it on the internet . as a result of her youtube videos , ms brown -lrb- pictured in february 2012 -rrb- had a large group of supporters who also have trichotillomania . ` some . people say trichotillomania is a result of childhood trauma but for me , . pulling my hair has been a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am . stressed or upset . ` a lot . of people at school and college did n't understand why i was going bald . lots of people mockingly called me `` baldie '' . but it was the horrible . looks that i got from other kids that was the worst thing . ' at one point . she had so little hair she shaved her head to make herself feel better ; . at other times she wore wigs . she said : ' i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their trichotillomania yet they have n't told their family or friends about it . i feel very blessed that people trust me like that ' she said : ` it has given me a voice . i have found it hard to speak to counsellors about my problem but it has always felt easy to talk to a webcam ' by . the time she was 14 she decided to find out for herself what was . happening to her . she did an internet search for ` hair pulling ' and . discovered what trichotillomania was . miss . brown , from chelmsford , essex , said : ` all that came up in the search . results were three not-so-brilliant videos on the disorder . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . the trigger can then be pulled causing the condom to fire at high speed . mr sprave accepts that the device still needs some work as it causes ` fear ' and ` pain ' the bill and melinda gates foundation , a private foundation that focuses on enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty , is offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for any inventor who can increase the appeal of condom use . it is hoped that the inventor will manage to design a condom that does not reduce sexual pleasure meaning that people are not tempted to go without them . bill and melinda gates believe that this is important as a means of reducing the spread of stis , including hiv . ` i . decided to upload my own , no-holds-barred video . ' in some photos , she . wrote the name of her disorder on her forehead in marker pen with an . arrow pointing to her last remaining bristles as she attempted to . explain the condition to the outside world . miss . brown , who is in her final year at film school in london , believes that . posting the videos on the internet has aided her recovery . ` i have . found it hard to speak to councillors but it has always felt easy to . talk to a webcam , ' she said . a . spokesman for trichotillomania support said : ` it is important that . sufferers know they are not alone and they should not be ashamed of . asking for support . ' more information and help can be found on trichotillomania support 's website , www.trichotillomania.co.uk .
joerg sprave has built a slingshot which can be used to apply a condom . it has to be fired at very close range and mr sprave admits it can be ` painful ' created it following gates foundation 's appeal for new condom technology . put a video on youtube of slingshot in action - viewed 1.7 million times .
are thought to reduce sexual pleasure . therefore , the gates foundation is looking for an idea which leads to the creation of condoms that increase pleasure in the hope this will encourage people to use them . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . they can then prepare the gun for firing before pulling the trigger at close range and releasing the condom at high speed . by the time she was 16 her habit had escalated into a full-blown psychological disorder - which left her almost completely bald . doctors failed to diagnose the condition for five years , simply telling her to stop being a fidget . meanwhile at school she endured cruel taunts and nasty looks from her classmates . scroll down for video . mr sprave has posted a video of the eye-watering device on youtube and in the two days since it appeared it has been viewed nearly two million times . in the video the inventor says : ` the slingshot channel can not stand back when someone poses a great challenge . ` of course there are problems - like the lack of accuracy , and the fear . ` there is pain . ` but of course , it needs some improvement . spelling it out : she wrote the name of her condition on her head to explain it to her online followers . rebecca brown started pulling her hair out at the a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am stressed or upset ' her videos . have been viewed 12million times and she receives so much fan mail . online it takes her three hours a week to reply to it all . she was even . mobbed by fans when she attended a conference on the condition in the . us this year . miss brown . said : ` i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their . ` so , come on , pass over the hundred grand and then we will make a product out of this . ' trichotillomania , yet they have n't told their family or friends . i feel . very blessed that people trust me like that . ' miss . brown played with hair obsessively as a child and began pulling out . clumps when she was a teenager . she said : ` i started going to the doctor . about it when i was 13 but they did n't diagnose it until 18 . before i . was diagnosed , doctors advised me to do all sorts of silly things . one . doctor told me to stop fidgeting and another told me to sit on my hands . ms brown -lrb- pictured in 2012 after shaving her head -rrb- said she decided to make the videos about her condition when she realised how little information there was about it on the internet . as a result of her youtube videos , ms brown -lrb- pictured in february 2012 -rrb- had a large group of supporters who also have trichotillomania . ` some . people say trichotillomania is a result of childhood trauma but for me , . pulling my hair has been a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am . stressed or upset . ` a lot . of people at school and college did n't understand why i was going bald . lots of people mockingly called me `` baldie '' . but it was the horrible . looks that i got from other kids that was the worst thing . ' at one point . she had so little hair she shaved her head to make herself feel better ; . at other times she wore wigs . she said : ' i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their trichotillomania yet they have n't told their family or friends about it . i feel very blessed that people trust me like that ' she said : ` it has given me a voice . i have found it hard to speak to counsellors about my problem but it has always felt easy to talk to a webcam ' by . the time she was 14 she decided to find out for herself what was . happening to her . she did an internet search for ` hair pulling ' and . discovered what trichotillomania was . miss . brown , from chelmsford , essex , said : ` all that came up in the search . results were three not-so-brilliant videos on the disorder . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . the trigger can then be pulled causing the condom to fire at high speed . mr sprave accepts that the device still needs some work as it causes ` fear ' and ` pain ' the bill and melinda gates foundation , a private foundation that focuses on enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty , is offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for any inventor who can increase the appeal of condom use . it is hoped that the inventor will manage to design a condom that does not reduce sexual pleasure meaning that people are not tempted to go without them . bill and melinda gates believe that this is important as a means of reducing the spread of stis , including hiv . ` i . decided to upload my own , no-holds-barred video . ' in some photos , she . wrote the name of her disorder on her forehead in marker pen with an . arrow pointing to her last remaining bristles as she attempted to . explain the condition to the outside world . miss . brown , who is in her final year at film school in london , believes that . posting the videos on the internet has aided her
generation of condoms . scroll down for video . joerg sprave , of the slingshot channel , designed the condom applicator slingshot gun in a light-hearted attempt to win a $ 100,000 grant from the bill and melinda gates foundation . he created the gadget in response to the foundation 's offer of grants for people who could cut sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies by creating the next generation of condoms . on behalf of the grand challenges in health programme , bill and melinda gates are offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for an idea which could spawn the next generation of condom technology . condoms are seen as vital for preventing unwanted pregnancies and stis but are often shunned on the basis that they are thought to reduce sexual pleasure . therefore , the gates foundation is looking for an idea which leads to the creation of condoms that increase pleasure in the hope this will encourage people to use them . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . they can then prepare the gun for firing before pulling the trigger at close range and releasing the condom at high speed . by the time she was 16 her habit had escalated into a full-blown psychological disorder - which left her almost completely bald . doctors failed to diagnose the condition for five years , simply telling her to stop being a fidget . meanwhile at school she endured cruel taunts and nasty looks from her classmates . scroll down for video . mr sprave has posted a video of the eye-watering device on youtube and in the two days since it appeared it has been viewed nearly two million times . in the video the inventor says : ` the slingshot channel can not stand back when someone poses a great challenge . ` of course there are problems - like the lack of accuracy , and the fear . ` there is pain . ` but of course , it needs some improvement . spelling it out : she wrote the name of her condition on her head to explain it to her online followers . rebecca brown started pulling her hair out at the a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am stressed or upset ' her videos . have been viewed 12million times and she receives so much fan mail . online it takes her three hours a week to reply to it all . she was even . mobbed by fans when she attended a conference on the condition in the . us this year . miss brown . said : ` i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their . ` so , come on , pass over the hundred grand and then we will make a product out of this . ' trichotillomania , yet they have n't told their family or friends . i feel . very make herself feel better ; . at other times she wore wigs . she said : ' i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their trichotillomania yet they have n't told their family or friends about it . i feel very blessed that people trust me like that ' she said : ` it has given me a voice . i have found it hard to speak to counsellors about my problem but it has always felt easy to talk to a webcam ' by . the time she was 14 she decided to find out for herself what was . happening to her . she did an internet search for ` hair pulling ' and . discovered what trichotillomania was . miss . brown , from chelmsford , essex , said : ` all that came up in the search . results were three not-so-brilliant videos on the disorder . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . the trigger can then be pulled causing the condom to fire at high speed . mr sprave accepts that the device still needs some work as it causes ` fear ' and ` pain ' the bill and melinda gates foundation , a private foundation that focuses on enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty , is offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for any inventor who can increase the appeal of condom use . it is hoped that the inventor will manage to design a condom that does not reduce sexual pleasure meaning that people are not tempted to go without them . bill and melinda gates believe that this is important as a means of reducing the spread of stis , including hiv . ` i . decided to upload my own , no-holds-barred video . ' in some photos , she . wrote the name of her disorder on her forehead in marker pen with an . arrow pointing to her last remaining bristles as she attempted to . explain the condition to the outside world . miss . brown , who is in her final year at film school in london , believes that . posting the videos on the internet has aided her recovery . ` i have . found it hard to speak to councillors but it has always felt easy to . talk to a webcam , ' she said . a . spokesman for trichotillomania support said : ` it is important that . sufferers know they are not alone and they should not be ashamed of . asking for support . ' more information and help can be found on trichotillomania support 's website , www.trichotillomania.co.uk .
by. david wilkes. whenever rebecca brown stressed when growing play for comfort. an inventor has a terrifying means using apply a condom - says all in beating. joerg sprave, of the slingshot channel designed the condom applicator slingshot gun in a light-hearted attempt win a # 65,000 -lrb- $ 100,000 -rrb- grant the bill and melinda gates foundation mr sprave, from burgkunstadt in created the gadget in response the foundation 's offer grants people could cut sexually transmitted diseases unwanted pregnancies creating the next generation condoms scroll. joerg sprave, of the slingshot channel designed the condom applicator slingshot gun in a light-hearted attempt win a $ 100,000 grant the bill and melinda gates foundation he created the gadget response the foundation 's offer grants people could cut sexually transmitted diseases unwanted pregnancies creating the next generation condoms. on behalf the grand challenges in health programme, bill and melinda gates are offering $ 100,000 worth an idea spawn condom technology condoms are seen vital stis but shunned on thought reduce sexual pleasure. therefore, the gates foundation looking an idea which leads condoms that increase pleasure the hope this encourage. mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject attach a condom the barrel. they can then prepare the gun before pulling at releasing the condom at. by the time she 16 her habit escalated - left almost bald. doctors failed diagnose for, simply telling her being a fidget. meanwhile at school she endured cruel taunts nasty looks. scroll. mr sprave has posted the eye-watering device youtube in the two days appeared viewed two. in the video the inventor : ` the slingshot channel can not stand back when someone poses. ` of course there problems - like accuracy, the fear. ` there pain. ` but of, needs some improvement. spelling it : she wrote the name her condition her head to explain her online followers. rebecca brown started pulling at by nearly bald. when she 19 the condition got shave completely -lrb- pictured. feeling lost, she started. taking a photograph herself every, chronicling. ` that why i need the money. ' he adds ` nothing fascinates male human beings guns sex so when combine both you must see the huge potential this. the internet in a blog and in youtube videos with brutal honesty. to her utter surprise the response overwhelming -- to supportive. as, her self-confidence grown back -- so her hair. miss. brown, now 20 become a heroine thousands other sufferers. trichotillomania, characterised the uncontrollable urge. pluck out the hair, usually from but sometimes eyebrows and eyelashes. ms brown took photos herself every posted a slide show youtube. she pictured february when the condition particularly. ms brown -lrb- pictured before she started pulling said : ` some people childhood trauma for, pulling has a comfort thing. i do it a when stressed upset ' her videos. have viewed 12million she receives so much fan mail. online it takes her reply it all. she even. mobbed fans when she attended a conference the condition in. us this year. miss brown. said : ` i get post from confide. ` so, come pass over hundred grand and then we make a product. ' trichotillomania, yet they n't told their family. i feel. very blessed that people trust like. ' miss. brown played hair obsessively as began pulling. clumps when she. she : ` i started going. about it when i 13 but they did n't diagnose 18. before i. was diagnosed, doctors advised me do all sorts silly things. one. doctor told stop fidgeting another told sit. ms brown -lrb- pictured 2012 after shaving said decided make the videos about her condition when realised how little information. as her youtube videos, ms brown -lrb- pictured february -rrb- had a large group supporters also have. ` some. people say a result childhood trauma but for,. pulling my hair has a comfort thing. i do it a when. stressed or upset. ` a lot. of people at school college did n't understand i going bald. lots mockingly called me `` baldie. but horrible. looks that i got from other kids was the worst thing. ' at one point. she had so little hair she shaved feel ;. at other times she wore wigs. she : i get post from confide yet have n't. i feel very blessed people trust like ' she : ` it has given a voice. i have found speak counsellors my problem but always felt easy a webcam ' by. the time she 14 she decided find for. happening her. she did an internet search ` hair pulling. discovered what trichotillomania. miss. brown, from chelmsford essex said ` all that came the search. results were three not-so-brilliant videos on the disorder. mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject attach a condom the barrel. the trigger can then pulled causing the condom fire at. mr sprave accepts that the device still as causes ` fear the bill and melinda gates foundation, a private foundation focuses enhancing healthcare reducing offering any inventor increase the appeal condom use it hoped the inventor manage design a condom reduce meaning people tempted go without them. bill and melinda gates believe this important as a means reducing stis, including hiv ` i. decided upload. ' in some photos, she. wrote the name her disorder in marker pen with. arrow pointing her last remaining bristles as attempted. explain the condition to. miss. brown, who in film school london believes. posting the videos has aided her recovery. ` i have. found speak councillors but has always felt easy. talk a webcam, ' she a. spokesman trichotillomania support said : ` it. sufferers know should ashamed. asking support. ' more information and help can trichotillomania support 's website,
a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am stressed or upset ' her videos . have been viewed 12million times and she receives so much fan mail . online it takes her three hours a week to reply to it all . she was even . mobbed by fans when she attended a conference on the condition in the . us this year . miss brown . said : ` i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their . ` so , come on , pass over the hundred grand and then we will make a product out of this . ' trichotillomania , yet they have n't told their family or friends . i feel . very blessed that people trust me like that . ' miss . brown played with hair obsessively as a child and began pulling out . clumps when she was a teenager . she said : ` i started going to the doctor . about it when i was 13 but they did n't diagnose it until 18 . before i . was diagnosed , doctors advised me to do all sorts of silly things . one . doctor told me to stop fidgeting and another told me to sit on my hands . ms brown -lrb- pictured in 2012 after shaving her head -rrb- said she decided to make the videos about her condition when she realised how little information there was about it on the internet . as a result of her youtube videos , ms brown -lrb- pictured in february 2012 -rrb- had a large group of supporters who also have trichotillomania . ` some . people say trichotillomania is a result of childhood trauma but for me , . pulling my hair has been a comfort thing . i do it a lot when i am . stressed or upset . ` a lot . of people at school and college did n't understand why i was going bald . lots of people mockingly called me `` baldie '' . but it was the horrible . looks that i got from other kids that was the worst thing . ' at one point . she had so little hair she shaved her head to make herself feel better ; . at other times she wore wigs . she said : ' i get a lot of post from people who confide in me about their trichotillomania yet they have n't told their family or friends about it . i feel very blessed that people trust me like that ' she said : ` it has given me a voice . i have found it hard to speak to counsellors about my problem but it has always felt easy to talk to a webcam ' by . the time she was 14 she decided to find out for herself what was . happening to her . she did an internet search for ` hair pulling ' and . discovered what trichotillomania was . miss . brown , from chelmsford , essex , said : ` all that came up in the search . results were three not-so-brilliant videos on the disorder . mr sprave 's contraption allows the unlucky subject to attach a condom to the barrel of the slingshot gun . the trigger can then be pulled causing the condom to fire at high speed . mr sprave accepts that the device still needs some work as it causes ` fear ' and ` pain ' the bill and melinda gates foundation , a private foundation that focuses on enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty , is offering $ 100,000 worth of start-up money for any inventor who can increase the appeal of condom use . it is hoped that the inventor will manage to design a condom that does not reduce sexual pleasure meaning that people are not tempted to go without them . bill and melinda gates believe that this is important as a means of reducing the spread of stis , including hiv . ` i . decided to upload my own , no-holds-barred video . ' in some photos , she . wrote the name of her disorder on her forehead in marker pen with an . arrow pointing to her last remaining bristles as she attempted to . explain the condition to the outside world . miss . brown , who is in her final year at film school in london , believes that . posting the videos on the internet has aided her
 The text describes Miss Brown, who has trichotillomania, a condition that causes her to compulsively pull out her hair. She has been open about her condition and has made videos about it, which have been viewed millions of times. Despite receiving support from many people, she has also faced bullying and criticism. She has learned to cope with her condition and has found ways to manage it, including using a wig and taking medication. She is grateful for the support she has received and hopes to raise awareness about trichotillomania.