Abstract: Mitigating a user interface display function of a modular energy system includes receiving formatted video data at a video data converter circuit, providing differential video signaling data to the display from the video data converter circuit, providing a copy of the differential video signaling data to a processor, and determining that the differential video signaling data is changing over time. Mitigating erroneous outputs from an isolated interface includes receiving a state of a first switch of a first footswitch coupled to a first comparator and a reference voltage coupled to the first comparator, receiving the state of the first switch coupled to the first duplicate comparator and the reference voltage coupled to the first duplicate comparator, comparing the output of the first comparator with the output of the first duplicate comparator, and determining activation or deactivation of a surgical instrument coupled to the controller based on the comparison.

Abstract: A toy band which comprises a bistable spring that can be dynamically deployed from an elongated rigid position to a coiled position around one's wrist, forearm, other part of the body, or any suitably-shaped object through striking the band against that part of the body or object and that also broadcasts a pre-recorded audio message when the band is deployed. The toy band includes an audio broadcast unit removably affixed the bistable spring and includes a housing, a speaker, a battery, an electrical impact switch, and a read-only memory or other memory chip that can store a pre-recorded audio message which is broadcast upon closure of the impact switch. The audio broadcast can be actuated, while affixed to the bistable spring by the striking of the device against any suitably-shaped object, or independently of the spring, by simply removing the unit from the spring and applying pressure to the unit thereby activating the audio messages stored therein.