While the competition for the most creative design mask was summed up in Ashgabat, the Japanese technology company Donut Robotics went further and presented a modern, improved model to the public.
By design of the inventors, the “smart” mask can connect to a smartphone using Bluetooth and works in conjunction with a special application.
The body of the plastic and silicone mask has a built-in microphone that improves speech recognition. The application also includes the function of digitizing spoken words and displaying them on the smartphone screen.
Among other things, the “smart” mask performs the job of a translator from Japanese. It translates human speech into 8 foreign languages, including: English, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese.
However, a high-tech mask is not able to protect against viral infections, since it has holes for air. But the developers propose to put on a “smart” mask over the usual one in order to reduce the risks of catching the disease by airborne transmission.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began to attack humanity, scientists around the world have been trying to invent more advanced protection. Thus, masks-screens, anti-coronavirus masks with remote control, and sobering masks were developed. According to experts, innovations develop more rapidly in times of crises.
The start-up for the production of “smart” masks was launched in summer 2020. Then the Japanese technology company Donut Robotics, which announced the fundraising for the creation of its product, raised 265 thousand US dollars in less than an hour.
The world’s first Bluetooth C-FACE mask will be on sale in Japan in January. The starting price of the product is 40 US dollars. The price includes a subscription to a special app for Japanese consumers. The entry of “smart” masks into the international market is planned for April 2021 at the earliest.
Selbi CHARIYEVA