Printed on the waistband and in constant contact with the skin is an electronic biosensor, designed to measure blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs. The technology, developed by nano-engineering professor Joseph Wang of University of California San Diego and his team, breaks new ground in the field of intelligent textiles and is part of shift in focus in healthcare from hospital-based treatment to home-based management. The method is similar to conventional screen-printing although the ink contains carbon electrodes. The project is being funded by the U.S. military with American troops likely to be the first recipients…. “This specific project involves monitoring the injury of soldiers during battlefield surgery and the goal is to develop minimally invasive sensors that can locate, in the field, and identify the type of injury,” Wang told Reuters Television. Ultimately, the biosensor that detects an injury will also be able to direct the release of drugs to relieve pain and even treat the wound.
Yeah, I know; I piss and moan about how screwed up this country is…and it really, truly is. Still, every now and again, I run across something that makes me (something close to) proud to be an American. I mean, how can a headline like this not make you want to stand up and belt out a stanza of “God Bless America”??:
U.S. scientists design smart underpants that could save lives
No, were not talking about Mitt Romney’s Magic Mormon Underpants, but the possibilities are truly mind-boggling. When ready for mass production, Wang’s Magic Underpants (no pun intended) will feature iPhone integration, Internet connectivity, and a full-contact porn simulator capable of mimicking any number of different preferences and fetishes.
Gawd, I LOVE America….
