Anyone who remembers a HIC (Head Injury Criterion) measurement from 2008 knows it was quite an undertaking. It was a time-consuming job filled with technical challenges. Today, the wireless HIC meter from Wireless Value is the global standard, but how did this innovation actually come about?

The Challenges of Past HIC Measurements

Until 2008, testing impact absorbing surfaces, such as those on playgrounds, was a cumbersome process. The HIC meter had to be suspended from a large tripod and was connected to a laptop with physical cables. There was even a separate box between the laptop and the meter just to release the magnet.

The disadvantages were significant:

• Risk of damage: With a bit of bad luck, the heavy HIC meter would fall directly onto the cabling, requiring immediate replacement.

• Weather dependent: Measuring in the rain was nearly impossible or very inconvenient, as the laptop constantly had to be kept under a shelter.

• Time-consuming: Setting up and dismantling the tripod and cabling took a lot of time.

The Breakthrough: Bluetooth Technology and Ease of Use

In 2008, Wireless Value received a query asking if operating the HIC meter could be made more user-friendly. Thanks to our existing in-house expertise in Bluetooth technology, the idea was born quickly: fully wireless control.

By developing advanced software ourselves—an Android app and a PC program—cables became obsolete. Data now flows directly from the HIC meter to the phone and then to the computer for database storage and reporting. No more cables, no risk of cable breakage, and much more freedom of movement.

From Local Inspections to World Rugby Standard

In the early years, the new meter was mainly used by inspection companies in the Netherlands. The real international breakthrough followed in 2013. The World Rugby federation mandated the use of the HIC meter for testing rugby fields (both artificial and natural grass).

This shifted Wireless Value's focus: alongside playgrounds, we became a key player in sports fields. Demand increased explosively, and the technology proved its worth at the highest level of sport.

Innovation for Every Height: Trampoline Parks and Swings

Wireless Value continued to innovate based on customer requests. This resulted in specific solutions for various sectors:

• Swings: A special HIC version developed specifically for inspecting swing surfaces.

• Extreme heights: A HIC meter capable of measuring drop heights of up to 6 meters, ideal for trampoline parks and climbing halls.

Global Confidence in Wireless Value

Today, Wireless Value equipment can be found all over the world, from Sweden to New Zealand and from Japan to Chile. We work with dedicated agents in countries such as Australia, Denmark, Spain, France, and South Korea, and supply directly to other regions.

Our app and software are now available in 7 languages, allowing inspectors worldwide to work simply and accurately. And we are not standing still: the next generation of developments is already around the corner.