Wearable Technology

According to investopedia.com, wearable technology is defined as "electronics that can be worn on the body, either as an accessory or as part of material used in clothing.  One of the major features of wearable technology is its ability to connect to the Internet, enabling data to be exchanged between a network and the device".  Wearable technology can seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but it is a part of our world!  It can help people track their health, assist people with disabilities, or simply make life more convenient.  Here are two wearable technologies that I found to be amazing.


Prototype to Translate Sign Language



This device is a prototype to translate sign language into English!  I am just blown away by this idea!  This could really help people communicate better with sign language speaking individuals.  Engineers at Texas A&M are working on this technology.  It senses the muscular movements of the signer's arm and wrist to translate the movements into words.  Earlier prototypes from different engineers attempted to translate sign language into typed text.  Those inventions usually used cameras to translate and could not pick up the intricate finger movements of signing.  Understanding why the earlier devices did not work, the engineers at A&M decided to focus on the muscle movements rather than video-based solutions.  A drawback of the device is that it has to be programmed and learn the specific wearer's muscle movements to be efficient; they are working on how to remove this step of the device altogether where it will immediately work on any wearer.  The possibilities of this device for speakers of sign language would be immeasurable.  



Link to Video:  https://youtu.be/tCYw4-Hml4Y










Accelerometer-Enhanced Football Helmet 

Meet Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz.  Back in the early 90s he was an athletic trainer for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He became concerned with the amount and effects of concussions happening in football.  This concern has ignited the passion that led Guskiewicz to his current position of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina.  He works with the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at UNC developing a helmet fitted with technology to study the effects of hits taken in football.  Players are fitted with helmets that contain devices called accelerometers.  These soft, spring-like apparatuses are placed between the helmet's padding.  They communicate the g-force at which the player's helmet was hit in a collision to a computer on the sideline.  Guskiewicz is using the data collected to determine the type and strength of hit it takes to cause a concussion.  With this knowledge and this accelerometer technology, Guskiewicz has been able to impact the sport of football to make it safer for current and future players.  This technology could possibly make its way into all helmets in game situations to give trainers and doctors real-time data to make decisions about a player's health and safety.



Link to video:  https://youtu.be/CcS7gr3HZbU








Link to video:  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:8085758


Links for resources:
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wearable-technology.asp

http://www.livescience.com/52491-wearable-sensors-translate-sign-language.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcS7gr3HZbU


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/sports/football/nfl-players-union-weighs-the-benefits-and-the-pitfalls-of-helmet-sensors.html?_r=0

http://endeavors.unc.edu/spr2008/football_concussions.php