Detecting Concussions At Time Of Impact On The Football Field

The University of Minnesota is employing a new sensing device inside the helmets of players to detect forces that are great enough to induce concussions. Known as the Head Impact Telemetry System or HITS, the technology uses sensors in the helmets to page coaches and trainers when a high impact hit occurs, sending the player's jersey number and G-force of the impact. The data is not only being used to alert team staff to potential injury but is being captured and sent to the helmet manufacturer to aid in future design consideration. The system cost about $1000 per helmet. Check out this Discovery Channel video...

Madden touches down

Tuesday saw the release of Madden NFL 08 and the blitz is on! The venerable fan favorite is almost as highly anticipated as the NFL season itself. Released on 10 different gaming systems, Madden covers them all like a good defensive line. EA Sports definitely has the upper hand in football games, with exclusive rights to NFL teams and players, and according to the EA web site "Maddenoliday rocked New York City Monday night as Times Square played host to the biggest Madden launch event ever. Ozzy Osbourne kicked off the action, performing several songs atop the Hard Rock marquee."