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09 Jul 2012

Armor on the Field

Wired has a nice piece up about NFL helmets and advances in the technology of making them.

Posted by: Rivers McCown on 09 Jul 2012

11 comments, Last at 11 Jul 2012, 1:59pm by Dean

Comments

1
by drobviousso :: Mon, 07/09/2012 - 1:47pm

I'm kind of at the point where I search for the term "homeostasis," and if its not in the article, I figure it's not worth reading. Am I wrong?

Nice graphics though.

2
by akn :: Mon, 07/09/2012 - 6:57pm

A question for the guys on this board doing brain impact biomechanics: Is the SIMon model referenced in the article a reasonable system for comprehensive impact/injury testing? Or has the available technology/research advanced significantly passed this? Do you guys use it, or something built in house, and how does it compare?

8
by BigWoody (not verified) :: Tue, 07/10/2012 - 2:40pm

Good luck with that. Only attorneys and RaiderJoe comment on this site :)

9
by Dean :: Wed, 07/11/2012 - 1:06pm

You obviously didn't read the last concussion related xp they posted.

10
by BigWoody (not verified) :: Wed, 07/11/2012 - 1:35pm

The :) should be an indicator that I was kidding.

11
by Dean :: Wed, 07/11/2012 - 1:59pm

my bad

3
by akn :: Mon, 07/09/2012 - 7:02pm

Kevlar padding and the like reduce peak impacts (and linear impacts). It's already been shown in several studies that peak impact correlates poorly with concussions and long term issues related to head trauma. In fact, soccer players heading a ball experience higher peak impact than football players. The Cleveland Clinic study cited in the article does a very good job of showing this.

4
by Jerry :: Mon, 07/09/2012 - 11:05pm

The opening reminded me of Byron Donzis introducing his flak jacket to Dan Pastorini. (Third and fourth paragraphs.)

5
by Marko :: Tue, 07/10/2012 - 1:26am

I haven't read either the linked extra point or the Byron Donzis link you mention, but I know exactly what article you are talking about. I thought of the Byron Donzis/Dan Pastorini story after seeing the reference to Kevlar padding in comment 3 above.

Edit: I clicked on your link and it is a different article about Byron Donzis and Dan Pastorini. The article that I remember is from Sports Illustrated in the late 1970s.

6
by Intropy :: Tue, 07/10/2012 - 2:38am

It reminded me of Harry Houdini.

7
by Jerry :: Tue, 07/10/2012 - 3:41am

You know the story, even if it's in Donzis' obituary (which was the first Google hit I got).