A few months ago, I was finally employed as a full-time engineer. Though I was working full time as a contractor before, I was extremely excited to have full employment with amazing things like benefits and vacation! Yet, even more exciting than that is the work I do.
I am working as an engineer for X2 Biosystems, a company that is attempting to make all sports (well, probably not e-sports) safer. Concussions are a major issue in sports and not just because of the initial damage from your brain smacking around inside of your skull. Many athletes try to "tough it out," especially in concussion heavy sports like football, for fear of being seen as weak or being pulled out of an important game. This is when people die. Second-impact syndrome is a condition which occurs when a person suffers a concussion while still recovering from a previous one and is extremely dangerous, often resulting death or serious brain injury.
How do you recognize those concussions when they are hidden behind pride, mild symptoms and lack of concussion education? By recognizing them on and off of the field. A concussion isn't measurable, unfortunately. You can't say "Well, Timmy here got hit with a force of 50N, so he got a concussion," there are just too many unknown factors that have an effect. Thus, X2 developed a system for monitoring impacts on the field (a tiny patch that goes behind your ear or a mouth-guard with sensors in it) and a system for evaluating those subtle symptoms and comparing them to how the player normally acts.
It's amazing.
I am just so excited about work everyday, so thrilled to go in and work with top doctors, athletes and engineers. I more passionate about my job than I thought I could ever be and it isn't just because I love what I do, I love why I'm doing it. I thought my thrills would come from making neat devices, working on cutting edge technology and getting to design and create things never before thought of, but where it comes from most is knowing that I am making a device that will save lives. With each line I draw, each test I preform, each prototype I painstakingly craft, I am helping keep future children and adults safe.
Maybe one day the thrill will wear off, maybe I'll decide that I would rather have better pay and more ladder rungs to move up, but not today. Today, I'm helping make the world of sports a safer place.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
Seems from the sidelines you got hit really hard? A coach/trainer would take you out. However, our system could tell them how hard and, then, show them if you were exhibiting any concussion symptoms. If you weren't, there would not be any guessing (you could skip the "if in doubt, sit them out") and go back into the game.
Additionally, you are a perfect example of exactly why this is needed. Being a linebacker doesn't make your brain more prepared to withstand a concussion. In fact, all of that slamming makes you more likely to die from one.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
You think a person's physique makes a difference when it comes to brain trauma? (besides neck muscles possibly being able to help damper the impact)
After watching RG3 continue to play it should be apparent that a player thinking they are "okay" is not the same thing as actually being "okay" (especially if it's something that concerns your ability to think/reason).
Also, it sounds more like they're developing technology to help analyse impacts more. Just the first step in being able to try to find a correlation between how hard an impact on the head is and studying what effect that has on the brain. Either way, Riku isn't involved in the NFL rules process. :D (this is also something that could be used in boxing or mma)
getting rid of the nfl and american football in general would be a good start. there are plenty of other sports where people arent killing themselves or others because their brain chemistry is too screwed up from years of abuse
On January 08 2013 05:53 fabiano wrote: The danger is what makes many sports fun....
Maybe for a spectator. The risk of injury provides an image of toughness and manhood that can't be conjured by many other legal means, but I don't know a single player who wants to get hurt.
On January 08 2013 05:53 fabiano wrote: The danger is what makes many sports fun....
sometimes, but i think the most interesting thing is the competition and the will to win against a strong opponent, this is what makes eSport and all real Sports entertaining for me, atleast when i do some sports, i don´ßt watch any sport on TV not even SC2 only Proleague or going to live events
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
This mentality is exactly what the main problem is and what leagues are trying to (unsuccesfully) combat at every level. The whole "man up, you're a tough guy so just shake it off and go back out there" is what will cause more problems and needs to change, more than any gear or rule changes.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
This mentality is exactly what the main problem is and what leagues are trying to (unsuccesfully) combat at every level. The whole "man up, you're a tough guy so just shake it off and go back out there" is what will cause more problems and needs to change, more than any gear or rule changes.
Men being paid an average 4 million dollars a year at the sacrifice of their mind and body is a choice they individually make. You can't change those who don't want to change successfully, hence the protest by players who are opposed to Roger Goodell turning the NFL into a girly league. Soldiers go to war for mid-40k marks risking more optionally, I don't think half of the neanderthals in the league are crying about being millionaires rather than being a possible nobody via natural selection.
tl;dr: It's an ethical issue to invade a historical sport that compensates their players at the level that they do.
On January 08 2013 05:53 fabiano wrote: The danger is what makes many sports fun....
Maybe for a spectator. The risk of injury provides an image of toughness and manhood that can't be conjured by many other legal means, but I don't know a single player who wants to get hurt.
Well of course the players don't want to get hurt, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the thrill of a high energy and velocity collision sport. As far as I see it, college and high school American football players deserve more of the safety attention, for we are dealing with student-athletes in those cases. When it comes to the NFL, however, I'm not so sure. These men are paid shit tons of money (and yes, O linemen and other less flashy positions make less, but still) to go out there and compete at the highest level, and as long as they are made well aware of the risks they are subjecting themselves to, I see no reason to neuter the game a la bringing kickoff distance in or making additional hit types illegal. As someone who boxes and plays both football and rugby, the hits and physicality are by far my favorite part.
As for the content of Riku's blog, I think improving health assessment tools and increasing concussion awareness are both very good things, so cheers from me!
Edit: Game, it would appear we very much agree anyhow
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
This mentality is exactly what the main problem is and what leagues are trying to (unsuccesfully) combat at every level. The whole "man up, you're a tough guy so just shake it off and go back out there" is what will cause more problems and needs to change, more than any gear or rule changes.
what would really unfuck a lot of these issues at an NFL issue is binding contracts. You can sign a 5 year - $30m contract, but if you are cut at the end of year one, you are only getting that first year + any signing bonuses/incentives that were reached.
Broken players continually go back out there because they are playing for their jobs on every snap. Only the biggest of stars are exempt from that.
Perfect example: Alex Smith playing out a concussion, because he knew that he had Kaepernick breathing down his neck.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
This mentality is exactly what the main problem is and what leagues are trying to (unsuccesfully) combat at every level. The whole "man up, you're a tough guy so just shake it off and go back out there" is what will cause more problems and needs to change, more than any gear or rule changes.
Men being paid an average 4 million dollars a year at the sacrifice of their mind and body is a choice they individually make. You can't change those who don't want to change successfully, hence the protest by players who are opposed to Roger Goodell turning the NFL into a girly league. Soldiers go to war for mid-40k marks risking more optionally, I don't think half of the neanderthals in the league are crying about being millionaires rather than being a possible nobody via natural selection.
tl;dr: It's an ethical issue to invade a historical sport that compensates their players at the level that they do.
The NFL has also been trying to hide the effects of concussions from its players and mislead them as to what the risks actually are.
Everyone knows you're taking a risk by playing football, but up until a few years ago most people didn't know (even though the NFL had settled a lawsuit for it back in 2000) it also led to much higher rates of mental illness and a host of other things.
There's less players concerned about "wussification" than the impact concussions will have on them when they're only 50 or 60. Especially, especially at the college and highschool level.
I've played football for four years and will be playing in college next fall, and I haven't once sustained a concussion. I'm also a lineman on both defense and offense, so there is helmet to helmet contact every play. Perhaps I'm lucky, or I don't know.
It amazes me at how easily some people get concussions and other injuries when I haven't sustained a lengthy injury (never had to miss a game, had to sit out of 3 practices in 4 years) in my time playing.
By playing football, you are acknowledging the health risks. Sure, I agree that the game should be "made safer," but the bullshit QB rules and "defenseless receiver" rules annoy me to no end.
On January 08 2013 03:46 sixfour wrote: Making sports safer by greater recognition of when concussions occur - good thing
Making sports safer by removing kickoffs and it being an auto 15 yard penalty if you breathe anywhere near a QBs head - bad thing
Unfortunately they go hand in hand.
@Riku, as a football player I truly don't know a lot about the science behind my body. However, having had many concussions and having gone back and played with them based on a personal diagnosis of being "okay", I can't say that I fully agree with what you're doing. I get it when receivers and such get slammed that they should stay out until a doctor says it's okay, because they're just going to be destroyed over and over again in their position. However, the same really can't be said for linemen, linebackers, or well, the appropriately bodied men on the field from my perspective.
Edit: To reiterate, I think it's good, but needs more clear cut and defined boundaries when influencing games.
This mentality is exactly what the main problem is and what leagues are trying to (unsuccesfully) combat at every level. The whole "man up, you're a tough guy so just shake it off and go back out there" is what will cause more problems and needs to change, more than any gear or rule changes.
Men being paid an average 4 million dollars a year at the sacrifice of their mind and body is a choice they individually make. You can't change those who don't want to change successfully, hence the protest by players who are opposed to Roger Goodell turning the NFL into a girly league. Soldiers go to war for mid-40k marks risking more optionally, I don't think half of the neanderthals in the league are crying about being millionaires rather than being a possible nobody via natural selection.
tl;dr: It's an ethical issue to invade a historical sport that compensates their players at the level that they do.
The NFL has also been trying to hide the effects of concussions from its players and mislead them as to what the risks actually are.
Everyone knows you're taking a risk by playing football, but up until a few years ago most people didn't know (even though the NFL had settled a lawsuit for it back in 2000) it also led to much higher rates of mental illness and a host of other things.
There's less players concerned about "wussification" than the impact concussions will have on them when they're only 50 or 60. Especially, especially at the college and highschool level.
the tough guy culture is definitely a part of the problem, but probably a lot less so than not wanting to lose your job, and I would assume wanting to help your team win. The amount of media knob slobbing RG3 would have received if they won would have been mind boggling. That would pay dividends in his next contract, on more endorsements, etc.
The "tough guy culture" exists only as an extension of what is natural to a lot of guys; that is to say that the mindset is more due to being a human male and to some cultural set of values. I played football as well, and being competitive in a very physical sport made me feel better than anything, and it was a very naturally fulfilling endeavor in this way. You can be competitive in other areas as well, like SC2, for instance, but you absolutely will not get the same satisfying feeling from that as you would from football or other sports.
I'm all for the research, but only under the impression that the research can help make sports, especially pro football safer without having it change in any more drastic ways than it has.
@darthfoley: the ones in danger are the ones that are usually running when they're hit, like WRs, RBs. QBs suffer concussions because they are often hit from behind or from awkward angles and are lighter than those typically hitting them.
On January 08 2013 08:28 tehemperorer wrote: I'm all for the research, but only under the impression that the research can help make sports, especially pro football safer without having it change in any more drastic ways than it has.
Well yeah, but there will always be a significant delay between the research of a problem and the invention of the technology that will mitigate it, and right now we're in that period.
It's hard to "not do anything" once the information is out. Then again, if Goodell were serious about safety then he also wouldn't be in favor of an 18 game schedule.
On January 08 2013 05:53 fabiano wrote: The danger is what makes many sports fun....
Maybe for a spectator. The risk of injury provides an image of toughness and manhood that can't be conjured by many other legal means, but I don't know a single player who wants to get hurt.
Ask the players while you're at it. I know a lot of guys embrace the danger side too. There were a few outspoken goons/fighters in the NHL who say they really don't like to fight, but they fill the role and sort of how to do it. Then there are others who accept it as it's part of the sport. Then you have some guys who are out there to hurt, so it's not just fun to watch from a spectator standpoint. There is a lot more to it than just that.
You guys should look at the difference between professional grade gear compared to the stuff you buy out on the shelves. It's very different.
EPT
