Concussion Mitigation Technologies LLC employs dozens of dime-sized airbags inside a football helmet to cushion the blow of hard hits to the head. The airbags fire when the brain is about to strike the inside of the skull, providing an inward force and nudging the brain back to a neutral position.
I'm thinking we forget about high tech helmets and go back to vintage leather helmets. That would be one way to stop intentionaly dangerous hits of turning one's head into a battering ram.
Maybe that would work, Jack. The problem is that it seems like football players always find a way to make the game more dangerous, no matter how hard you try to promote safety.
Great idea and fascinating application of technology. I think this might work at the high school level.
Unfortunately, I see a scenario where professional athletes will now have more confidence and hit even harder with their helmets (because they believe their heads may take a greater shock). There could be some unforeseen risks introduced with this solution.
I agree, Greg. As helmets have gotten better and athletes have grown stronger, hits have gotten harder. Is there any reason to assume that this trend will change?
Anything that can help at the high school level would be a good development. Some of the research has been alarming on concussions caused not by the severity of collisions but actually the number. Of course, that means that young linemen could be especially vulnerable.
I agree, Al. If this kind of technology can trickle down to high school, it could have an effect on the future health of thousands of young football players. One of the issues with these kinds of hits (like the one shown in this video) is that they don't have immediate visible effects. But as these former players get to their 50s, they start to have problems.
American-type football has rules against hitting other players using the helmet. Penalties are accessed for breaking the game rules. Blatant violations result in ejection from the game, as well as possible suspension and ban from playing.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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