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As the airborne threat of Covid-19 gradually became clear, many of us went from mask-free to wearing disposable or homemade masks, before settling on washable, reusable products.
Now, however, even those might seem insufficient. Faced with the threat of highly infectious new variants of the virus, medical-grade N95 masks might appeal. And there is now a raft of ‘smart’ alternatives. Many of these were showcased at CES 2021, the annual celebration of cutting-edge consumer electronics technology. This show is normally held in Las Vegas, but this year’s event in January was the first to be held completely online.
Razer had the most eye-catching of the masks on offer. Known as Project Hazel, the mask has a Cyberpunk-style aesthetic with black or white sides and glowing rings on either side of a transparent shield, designed to enable “improved social interaction”. The mask interior lights up automatically in the dark, while there is also a built-in microphone and amplifier for clearer communication.
Active ventilators
Beneath the light-up rings are detachable and rechargeable active N95 ventilators, designed to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles with high fluid resistance, and ‘Smart Pods’ that regulate airflow. A dual-purpose wireless fast-charging box uses ultraviolet light to disinfect the disc-type ventilators.
Razer was careful not to explicitly claim protection from Covid-19. It said, however, that the mask would be “optimised through rigorous testing and user feedback”.
Other masks made the most of modern sensor technology and mobile computing. Active+ from AirPop uses a sensor known as the Halo to capture breath data, correlating that with realtime information about air quality and location. The washable mask tells wearers when to replace the filters, and offers biometric data. The supporting AirPop app gives an overview of breathing behaviour, and can even highlight pollutants that have been blocked during use.
The snap-in filters reportedly block more than 99% of 0.3-micron particles, including dust, allergens and microbes.
One lower-cost alternative was the MaskFone from UK firm Binatone, which combines ear buds and voice-activated assistants in a washable $50 device.
Breath of fresh air
For the most tuned-in adopters of cutting-edge technology, however, even these smart masks might not suffice. Also showcased were personal air-purification gadgets. LG packed two H13 HEPA filters, similar to those found in home air purifiers, into its mask-like Puricare wearable. A respiratory sensor reportedly detects the cycle and volume of the user’s breath, adjusting dual three-speed fans accordingly to aid breathing.
One of the more far-out ideas was the Airvida family of air purifiers from Ible, which are said to reduce the number of viral particles around the user’s face by packing an ionising system into a 20g device around the neck. The company claims its devices generate 2m negative ions per cubic centimetre every 0.6 seconds, latching on to positively charged airborne particles and dragging them towards the ground.
A smart choice?
According to Joseph G Allen and David Christiani from Harvard University in Massachusetts, N95 masks can fail to protect healthcare workers without proper training. Air purification, on the other hand, can reduce viral concentration without achieving full protection.
Trends from CES often reach the mainstream within a year or two, and the threat of future pandemics means we might adopt more high-tech protection in future. But, for now, follow government guidance.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.