It seems that great minds must think alike, is we’ve come across another innovative (and dare we say bright) idea for helping cast a little illumination for those cycling at night. Los Angeles industrial designer Nathan Wills has launched a Kickstater project to create a helmet with built-in luminous panels.
The still in prototype Torch T1 features white LED bulbs in the front, and red ones at the back, covered with plastic lenses, which dispersed the bold light to a greater viewing angle. These LED lights are powered by two rechargeable CR2 batteries and can offer five hours of run time in a non-flashing mode. Continue reading Another Bright Idea for Biking at Night
While military helmets may need to stop a bullet, Major League Baseball is requiring helmets that will be able to withstand a baseball strike of up to 100 miles per hour. This season approximately300 MLB players will wear the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company S100 Pro Comp batting helmet this season before the league-wide rule goes into effect next year.
Helmets for fitness have seriously evolved in the past 25 years, and while even a decade ago riders in pro cycling didn’t like to wear them, now the helmets are not only required – they are embraced. But there is still a ways to go, and the Swedish developers at MIPS are working on building a better helmet. Because it isn’t just about protecting the head, it is also about protecting the gray matter in side. Niklas Steenberg, CEO of MIPS AB tells where helmet development is “headed.” 
We’ve seen much innovation in the way to measure helmet impact, and this isn’t just to determine what effect the impact had on the wearer but now the helmet as well. The reasoning is that with each significant hit or impact the protective value of that helmet actually decreases. This in turn means that a helmet that protected on one impact might not protect as well the next time. The Brain Injury Association of Canada noted recently that the lifespan of helmet is often overlooked and that proper helmet care should be part of a regular routine to make sure that the helmet provides maximum protection.
While there has been an increased focus on the protection that helmets can provide to the wearer, engineers at the Frauenhofer Institute are also considering how a helmet can also help provide some power for personal electronics. The team has developed a flexible solar panel that is durable enough to be mounted on helmets, and can optimize Bluetooth in the process.
Earlier this week we noted that helmet development continues as research has shown that rotational motion is something needs to be considered as well. Numerous helmets have tried to offer ways to provide additional support, and now we heard about Vacotechnology AG’s Vaco 12 technology, which used vacuum cushions that are comprised of small, round beads – the kind you might find in a stuffed animal or bean bag chair – and the concept here is to provide a snugger helmet that is comfortable and can help absorb impact up to four times more effectively than just a traditional foam helmet. 
The good old sports helmet has been around a while, and the first recorded use of a dedicated fitness helmet was probably designed for football – although British officers did use their pith or sun helmets to play polo in the 19th century. Today helmets are often called “brain buckets” as they do product the gray matter and much more.
Over the years we’ve encountered many people who won’t wear helmets for cycling because they think they look cooler with their hair blowing in the wind – at least until a crash. Today many cyclists see a helmet as part of the style of riding. On the slopes, where fashion remains part of the sport, many skiers simply avoid the helmets because they won’t sacrifice style for safety.
It is hard to imagine a truly diehard Star Wars fan hitting the slopes this winter, but apparently the folks at Burton Snowboards thought otherwise. The board maker has released a line of Star Wars themed boards ($189.95 each) featuring various characters from the original Star Wars trilogy including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda and Boba Fett. The boards range from 2.5 feet to about 4 feet long – the former likely inspiring the Star Wars joke, “isn’t it a little short for a snowboarder?” (If you don’t get the joke, chances are these boards aren’t for you). 
Helmets are meant to protect the wearer’s head by taking the impact. However, even a minor spill can diminish the protective qualities of a helmet, and after a major crash or blow the helmet needs to be replaced. This certainly makes sense with cycling helmets, but with winter sports helmets there is an alternative.
One trend we saw very much this year was how technology is being used to reduce injuries. We’ve seen new improvements in helmets and sensors for football, baseball and hockey. We’ve seen helmets being used in skiing and snowboarding, as well as cycling of course.