Pandemic? Check. World in peril? Check. CES is on? Check. So of course Bluetooth Smart Masks are now a thing
- Reference: 1610517484
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/01/13/smart_masks/
- Source link:
“Smart Masks” that connect to your phone, that’s what.
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The Register has learned of at least three such devices having been announced at this week’s CES virtual consumer-tech fest.
One is called the “Maskfone” and offers a built-in microphone and lightweight earbuds, and on-mask controls for your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone. The garment also offers replaceable PM2.5 filters capable of catching the novel coronavirus.
The idea seems to be that wearing a Maskfone allows you to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 while chatting or listening to music, all without getting in a tangle of devices. Apparently, the device will also allow you to summon the services of your preferred digital assistant. Siri, Alexa and the Google assistant are immune to Coronavirus, but susceptible to others.
Handing over US$49.99 buys you this convenience.
Your 60-second guide to what Intel announced at CES. Or in 5 seconds: New laptop chips [2]READ MORE
An outfit named AirPop wants an extra $100 for its “Active+ Halo” Smart Mask that uses a built-in sensor to measure your breath. The device can count how often you breathe and inform you of the pollutants it has blocked, with that info delivered to an app. Replaceable filters will also be sold and the device will go on sale later this month.
Gaming kit vendor Razer’s offering is called “Project Hazel” and a built-in microphone and amplifier in the expectation they clarify speech. The device lights up at night, which apparently helps to communicate. A transparent front panel is present so that those around you can read your lips. Replaceable filters keep COVID at bay.
Razer promises the device will have all-day battery life, but says it’s a mere concept that “will continue be optimized through rigorous testing and user feedback to ensure safety compliance and maximum comfort and usability.”
[3]
Which goes to show that the pandemic hasn’t stopped the production of vapourware. ®
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[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/12/intel_processor_vpro/
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[4] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"...and on-mask controls for your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone"
I thought that touching your mask was considered a bad idea.
Quite apart from which, unless a mask fits to N95 respirator standards (and that includes fitting it to the user when donned) it actually doesn't do very much to stop the spread of the bug, because the exhaled air largely leaks round the edges rather than going through the filter (path of least resistance to flow).
Re: "...and on-mask controls for your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone"
I'm not a fan of these crappy over clever masks either. But this statement isn't correct:
"unless a mask fits to N95 respirator standards... it actually doesn't do very much to stop the spread of the bug"
Surgical masks do work well, and they are not perfect fitting. If they didn't hospitals wouldn't be using them for decades.
A surgical mask has 3 layers, the inner layer is absorbent, it absorbs the moist virus ridden particles. Even if some air escapes from the edges it still works. Outer layer is water repellent, and a separator membrane keeps them apart. Be sure to wear the blue or green layer on the outside, and press the nose band tight across your nose.
It's beautifully simple, and its cheap to make in bulk so throw it away regularly and replace with a new one.
I pay ~25 baht per 50, about 2 US Cents per mask.
These cloth masks are not as good because they're absorbent only but they too work.
US has about quarter of a million new cases a day, i.e. it will have about ~2500 deaths per day once the new years peak have died off. Dr Scott Atlas, and Fox News and the Republicans behind him have a lot of deaths to answer for.
Re: "...and on-mask controls for your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone"
Actually, the British Medical Journal disagrees: 'Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said, “There is only very limited evidence of the benefits of wearing face masks by the general public, no evidence that wearing them in crowded places helps at all, and no evidence at all yet related to covid-19.”' [BMJ 2020;369:m1422 doi: 10.1136/bmj.m1422 (Published 7 April 2020)]. So do [1]two US professorial experts .
N95 masks do help provided they're not worn for too long as they gradually get too contaminated. But we're told not to use N95 masks, only ineffective ones (including randomly devised home made ones or "a scarf").
I'm entirely in favour of precautions that actually work, but firmly against ineffectual "security theatre".
[1] https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data
"Smart" Masks
It is not the masks that are the problem: it is the idiots who either refuse to wear them or wear them in such a way that they are non-protective.
iMask™
Sir Jony is thought-bombing it right now.
Why not make a speech to text mask that displays what you are saying?
I assume the complexity would be the required phone app to allow users to select the font and text colours.
@Version 1.0
Sounds like an interesting project for anyone with a Raspberry Pi Zero but the power supply could be a problem!
Hmm. Just because you *can*
Doesn't necessarily mean you should... Somehow, I've managed to live over sixty years without having to know how many times I've breathed; I don't think I'm likely to change that now.
I scent the faint odour of the oil of the snake...