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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed into a law a number of reforms that will go a long way toward improving mine safety in the state's 18 underground mines. Included in the legislation are requirements for wireless tracking devices, which should make it easier for rescue teams to locate trapped miners in emergency situations.

Of course, mining is still a dangerous undertaking, but anything that can be done to make things a little safer will go a long way.

It really goes without saying that if you're going to see how a new product works, you have to test it out in nearly every type of situation and environment. Every product will work if you test it in the "perfect" environment, but since there is no such thing, you have to work with it in your own environment.

My friend Rich Nass from Mobile Handset DesignLine has tested many wireless products over the years, and he discusses his experience with the new Motorola Bluetooth HT820 stereo headphones. I've been in his home quite a few times, and when he talks about how the device is able to pick up signals through his concrete walls, he's not kidding.

In other words, if you're going to spend big bucks on any new wireless gadget, it's imperative that you make sure it works in the type of environment you are accustomed to, and not take what is written in the owner's manual or manufacturer's website as gospel.

Just because it's wireless doesn't mean it's a great product--testing it to make sure it works the way you want it to is the key to the whole deal.

Particular attention has been paid lately to mining safety in the wake of the two disasters in West Virginia in the last few weeks that have resulted in the deaths of over a dozen miners. Most of the focus is on development and eventual legislation by Congress of wireless communication systems and tracking devices so that if something does happen, responders will have a fighting chance to talk with, and eventually rescue, trapped miners.

Of course, all of this talk and research has been too long in coming, and if attention had been paid to this issue even a few months before, these tragedies may have been avoided. In any event, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will hold a hearing next month to discuss mine safety procedures and enforcement measures and wireless devices will definitely be on the agenda.

In addition, it would be a good idea to bring mining company executives to this hearing and have them publicly commit to instituting wireless communications systems so there will some accountability, at least on the surface.

This is certainly a case of 20/20 hindsight, but the head of the company that owns the Sago Mine in West Virginia where 12 trapped miners died last week now says that if the men had wireless communications devices, they would have been able to immediately send out an alert for rescue. When the mine exploded, the wired phone that was the only means of communication to the outside was destroyed. He now says that all of his company's miners will be required to carry wireless radios.

Obviously, this is an extreme case of second-guessing, but wouldn't you think in 2006 that supplying workers, especially those who toil in extremely hazardous situations (like coal mining), with the most up-to-date communications devices would be a standard operating procedure?

Patients with heart conditions are among a vast group of people who may benefit from the emerging trend of devices embedded with wireless monitors being implanted into their bodies to track their disease state and watch out for signs of abnormalities before they occur. The medical device industry is turning to wireless technology in order to make sure their devices do what they're supposed to do and note any possible defects before a mass recall on any one or more products will have to be issued.

In addition, healthcare experts say using these wireless technologies will help cut down on unnecessary exams and gives patients the opportunity to be more active in caring for themselves. Plus, insurance costs may decrease because of all of these activities, and that certainly is an extra added bonus.