Black Eyed Peas musician will.i.am and technology conglomerate Honeywell have unveiled a smart mask with brilliant tech specs and is a cross between fashion and functional.
Xupermask, as it has been named, has a seven-hour long battery life, has three dual-speed fans, a Honeywell HEPA filtration system, built-in earphones and LED lights for night-time use. The mask which is a blend of tech and fashion sits snug at the bottom of the face and also has a seal at the nose which prevents fogging of glasses.
The mask, aside from being adept at tech features also solves a lot of functionality issues related to masks, like better ventilation, built-in earphones and even fogging of glasses. Owing to all its characteristics, the mask has been priced at a steep $299. Whether or not consumers will take to the pricey yet tech-first product is yet to be seen. The mask has been designed by Hollywood costume designer Jose Fernandez who has worked on sci-fi style movies like “Black Panther,” “The Avengers” and “X-Men 2.”
Talking about the idea of a smart mask, the musician said in a statement to the New York Times, “We are living in sci-fi times. The pandemic is straight out of a friggin’ movie. But we are wearing masks from yesterday’s movie. So I wanted to make a mask to fit the era that we’re in.”
It is obvious that after the smart phone and smart watch, technology has come a long and creative way with the innovation of the Xupermask. But with the COVID-19 vaccine rolling out in most places, how well the smart mask will be accepted could prove to be a challenge.
Image Source: Instagram/iamwill, honeywell, xupermask