BusinessWeek is highlighting some Olympic innovations, and it looks like fencing has finally moved to a transparent visor, the F.I.E. X-Change Vision 2000:
Though a few other companies have designed fencing masks with transparent visors, Leon Paul’s was the first to be approved by the international fencing governing body, the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE). The scratch-resistant, polycarbonate plastic visor is coated with an antifog compound that was originally developed for jet pilots. The helmet was designed using patented contour-fit technology to fit tighter and feel lighter.