Skin Sensing Table Saw

killabrew writes "Check out this article from Design News about a new skin sensing table saw technology that is on the verge of becoming a mandatory piece of hardware on every table saw. For years inventor Stephen Gass persevered in the face of legal, corporate and technical foes, he is forcing society to rethink its acceptance of saw blade accidents."

Comments

NPR Covered This in 2004

[HighOrbit]

Here is the link from NPR Story in 2004

The interesting thing is that the power tool industry refused the technology because it was too safe. They were afraid anybody without the technology would get sued for unsafe products, so they they collectively embargoed the technology.

From the NPR write up:

Industry sources say the major manufacturers also worry that adding the safety brake to some table saw models but not others would make them vulnerable to lawsuits.

Gee, thanks "mom"

[Dun Malg]

Marvelous. We certainly do need more mandatory complexity. Really we shouldn't stop at skin sensors on saws. We need breathalyzers on every car ignition, a licensing and permit structure (with fees of course) for posession of a baseball bat, and locking safes in every bathroom to keep pills away from children. Because those of us who don't drink, who only play baseball with our bats, and don't have any children should be willing to bend over and take it in the form of great cumulative expense and inconvenience for the sake of the statistically small number that would benefit. Like the safety nazis sa, "if it saves only one life, it's worth it!"