New shockproof helmet

If something hits your head while you are wearing this helmet, the soft inner mattress of the hat will instantly transform into a rock-hard shockproof material.

Industrial designer Tore Christian Bjørsvik Storholmen of the SINTEF Health Research Center said workers in the construction industry deserve a smarter helmet than the current model.

Currently, the 27-year-old designer has won a Norwegian Design Council award for his "pioneering" helmet. *

New design

Storholmen explained that 'When it comes to looks, safety helmets don't change much during the last 30 years. My hat style is inspired by a baseball cap that has long been popular in the construction industry. '

He chose this design because he was well aware that workers often carry insurance devices that they feel more comfortable with. However, this 'clever' idea also mentioned more than the new helmet's appearance.

The helmet is lined with a layer of inside with a soft and flexible storage under normal conditions, but is capable of turning right into hard material and shockproof if the helmet is heavily impacted.(Photo: SINTEF)

Smart material

The helmet is lined with a layer inside with a soft and flexible storage under normal conditions, but is capable of turning right into hard material and shockproof if the helmet is heavily impacted.

The award-winning author said, 'The material on the inner lining makes my helmet look more comfortable to use on a daily basis, and at the same time safer than regular models.'

And especially with the spirit of the times, Storholmen created parts of the outer shell that became transparent, so that the shockproof material could be seen on the outside.

Smart ear protection

Storholmen also use smart materials to make ear protection for helmets. The ear protectors and the rim caps themselves are used to power the devices in helmets made of textiles that can generate electricity.

'This means that the communication system can be combined with helmets without the cables to be able to signal with other devices,' Storholmen said.

Radio waves or contact lines or gas detectors can be installed all into the helmet according to the individual requirements of the user.

The combination of pressure-resistant textiles and Bluetooth technology means that users can answer a mobile phone call without having to remove gloves, ear protectors and helmets.

Student project

Last year, Tore Christian Bjørsvik Storholmen graduated with a bachelor of science degree in industrial design from Norway University of Science and Technology. This 'pioneering' helmet is the result of a student project in the classroom.

He said, 'We choose our own research topics. Since I have a brother who works in the construction industry, I realize there are many people who are uncomfortable wearing normal safety helmets. '

Multidisciplinary collective effort

Storholmen is currently working for the Work Physiology department of SINTEF's health research center, where he works with SmartWear equipment - one of the six special effort areas of SINTEF. The goal is to develop the following two types of smart clothing:

Clothing has integrated equipment such as those attached to sensors and communication devices.

Clothing is made of functional materials such as materials that bring new properties to clothing when the temperature changes or when there are other variations in the user's environment.

* This helmet received the third prize in the 'Open Young Talent' competition at the 2008 design award ceremony in Oslo on March 12.