Get your best sleep and wake up refreshed every day with this innovative smart sleep mask

Around 70 million Americans are reported to have one form of sleeping disorder or another, and a whopping 30% of adults are suffering from insomnia. We can probably blame part of this on a culture that glorified activity and busyness at the expense of sleep, but now people have become painfully aware of the need for restful slumber to actually keep their productivity up, not to mention live healthy lives. Unfortunately, many quick-fix solutions involve artificial methods like pills or herbal concoctions to force our bodies to shut down, leading to unbalanced lifestyles and dependence on these substances. Fortunately, there are more natural methods with longer-lasting effects, and this advanced sleep mask harnesses the power of sounds and light not only to let you sleep deeply but also to wake up more peacefully and naturally, ready to face the day ahead.

Designers: Adrian Wong and W.H.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $329 ($160 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $160,000.

Pills, teas, and other sleeping aids use external substances to help lull the body and mind to sleep. They might not be harmful as far as their ingredients go, but they don’t instill good habits and rely on external factors to induce sleep. They also don’t address the problem of waking up properly from this deep slumber, something that can only really be done with the right kind and amount of light. Fortunately, our bodies can actually be trained to this healthier sleeping pattern, which is what the Aura Smart Sleep Mask brings to the table, or the bed rather, utilizing immersive sounds and light therapy to get you sleeping and waking up in the best ways possible.

Step 1: Pair with Aura app & tailor your Dreamscape.

Step 2: Put on Aura.

Step 3: Enjoy your relaxation sessions with the optional light therapy.

Step 4: Experience total blackout & enter sleep nirvana.

Using the Aura Smart Sleep Mask is as easy as pairing it with the mobile app, selecting your preferred Dreamscape, putting it on, and enjoying the soothing sounds and gentle lights that will put you to sleep like a gentle lullaby. Dreamscape fuses the best of audio experiences, from meditation to ASMR to the melodies of nature, in order to bring your mind and body to a peaceful state. You can even have guided meditation if that’s your cup of proverbial tea. And when it comes for you to finally rouse from slumber, the mask emulates the light of the rising sun to wake you up more naturally compared to the harmful shock of an alarm.

In addition to the sound and light therapy, the Aura Smart Sleep Mask also creates a total blackout in order to let you create your personal sleep sanctuary wherever you are. The Hug 3D memory foam creates a leak-free seal around your eyes without putting any pressure on them, allowing you to blink freely and even keep them open until you finally fall asleep. Comfort, after all, is a critical element in a peaceful slumber, and every inch of the Aura Smart Sleep Mask is designed to be gentle on your head. Even better, this cushion attaches magnetically so it can be removed easily and washed by hand or in a machine.

Whether you’re trying to reclaim your sleep schedule or trying to get some shut-eye in an unfamiliar place, this innovative and comfortable smart wearable will help you get the best sleep and the most peaceful rising each and every time. Say goodbye to those costly pills, put away the inconvenient teas, and harness the power of soothing sounds and therapeutic lights to rediscover the power of rest with the Aura Smart Sleep Mask.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $329 ($160 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $160,000.

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Finally a voice-absorbing mask that lets you take calls in public “privately”

One of my pet peeves is people who take calls in public and talk noisily to whoever it is who’s calling. I don’t need to know your business whether it’s personal or actual business. But of course, there are times when it’s necessary that they take calls and they can’t find a quiet place to conduct their conversation. Earphones and headphones help reduce the annoyance but there needs to be another device to help protect noise levels and privacy.

Designer: PriestmanGoode

The voice-absorbing mask is now almost a reality as PriestmanGoode partnered with a French company called Skyted to add a jet engine silencer to it, albeit a miniaturised version. This way, the mask helps the user make calls without disturbing other people around them and also protect their privacy, especially in public areas. The mask also silences the noise around the caller, making it seem like you’re in a private room talking to each other.

The mask is also designed to be comfortable for the user, using an airflow system that is influenced by a jet engine as well. They also want to use materials that will not cause the device to overheat when used for a long time. It also has a shape design that adapts to the “recognizable” form of its user, whatever the shape or size of the face may be. They are also planning to use recycled and sustainable materials for the final product that will be available for commercial purchase.

There will be two versions of the voice-absorbing mask available when it launches on Kickstarter around March 2023. One is meant to be for business people or those who are working outside and need to take calls in public. The other one is a gamer version for those who’re playing in computer shops or in public places as well. The former will cost around $400 while the latter will be priced around $500 and will have a higher resonator volume.

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Micro-LED mask gives skincare boost while you multi task at home

Whenever I watch Korean dramas or music videos of K-pop artists, I always marvel at how most of their stars have such beautiful, flawless skin. I’ve gotten into a mostly Korean skincare routine as well, even though I know that genetics plays a large part of it as well. Still, it doesn’t really hurt to take care of your skin, particularly your face, especially as age starts creeping up on you. Technology has also been playing a part in some people’s skincare routine and this concept for a skincare device is not something far off in the future.

Designer: ( acasso )

A South Korean tech startup approached the designer to come up with a wearable device that would use micro-LED technology to treat some skincare conditions. What they came up with is a device that acts like a regular face mask rather than some of the regular hard material LED mask devices. It has a more attached fit to the face so that means the micro-LED technology can do its thing and give you better skincare, at least in concept.

The design for the device has two parts, the mask unit and the controller unit. The mask unit is attached to the controller. The latter also serves as the power source and the display so you can check the skin temperature as well as the battery level. You just have to look into the mirror so you can read the display if you’re wearing the mask. The unit has an open design so you’ll still be able to do other things while wearing the mask, like write in your journal or read a book. You can still browse your phone of course but we recommend doing other things while doing self-care.

Micro-LED technology is used to treat concerns like regulating oily skin, firming up sagging skin, preventing breakouts of pimples and other skin conditions, and fighting against wrinkles. There is no information yet how the device will actually work but the design itself seems like something I would actually want to add to my skincare routine.

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AirRes Mask wants to make the Metaverse a bit too realistic

We experience virtual reality by proxy through goggles and controllers, but a new mask could give us a first-hand feel of a potentially harrowing Metaverse experience.

Virtual and augmented reality are supposed to enable us to easily go places where we can’t physically reach otherwise or experience things that would be impossible under the laws of physics. Being able to walk the surface of Mars without worrying about how to breathe is one of the many experiences that the Metaverse promises to deliver, sooner or later. At the same time, however, some people criticize these experiences as clearly fake and unbelievable because you can only see but not feel or smell the real thing. For better or worse, a team of researchers is trying to at least replicate how you breathe in virtual worlds, but it might make it feel too real to the point that our brains and bodies won’t be able to distinguish what is real and what isn’t.

Designers: Markus Tatzgern, Michael Domhardt, Martin Wolf, Michael Cenger, Gerlinde Emsenhuber, Radomir Dinic, Nathalie Gerner, Arnulf Hartl

Virtual reality hardware naturally starts with the eyes and ears, as they are the easiest and most important of the senses to deceive in order to create a suspension of belief. No matter how convincing that illusion is, however, it breaks down when you start trying to move around and interact with the virtual world, which happens in the real world through controllers while standing completely still. Much of the R&D in the technologies that will power the so-called Metaverse revolve around navigation and interaction more believable, like with the use of gloves and walking machines. Very few address the believability of the sense of smell or, at the very least, the act of breathing.

Researchers from the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in Austria are investigating that are of the virtual experience by creating a mask design to restrict airflow to control breathing resistance and, therefore, the wearer’s breathing capability. The prototype looks like a whitewashed dystopian gas mask and almost hints at the contraption’s rather serious and almost critical application. A final product would look more refined, presuming something like this would ever be made commercially in the first place.

The idea is almost simple when you first hear about it, and it’s about making the virtual experience more believable by tricking your body into thinking they’re dealing with real-world situations. Walking through a house that’s on fire might not smell like the real thing, but the mask can regulate and restrict airflow so that you’d experience the same difficulty in breathing as you would if you were in a real-life fire. It might activate the brain’s natural fight-or-flight response, taking the experience closer to reality without actually endangering the wearer. Hopefully, the wearer is physically fit to experience that kind of stress, though.

Conversely, the person’s breathing could also be used as an additional way to control their virtual avatar, making their digital counterpart look as exhausted as they are in the real world. It can also open the doors to activities and games that would normally require you to blow air, like blowing out candles or blowing up balloons. The mask can also be used as a control and monitoring device for training simulations for firefighters and emergency personnel.

The same people that criticize virtual reality for being so obviously fake might also criticize this kind of invention for going overboard and making the experience too realistic. In a way, realism could actually remove some of the appeal of the Metaverse, particularly the ability to experience different places, worlds, and things without having to worry about hyperventilating. Of course, there will be experiences that are perfect for such breathing control devices, like horror games or exercise activities, but most people will probably try to do without the added gear. Alternatively, such a mask can be more useful for medical applications, helping medical personnel diagnose a patient’s well-being through monitored and regulated breathing.

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Japanese artist’s face masks and wearables give off futuristic, dystopian world vibes

Artist Ikeuchi Hiroto was obsessed with pop culture influences right from his childhood. The cinematic world of the Star Wars, the imaginary robotic animals of Zoids, or the intimidating form of the Gundam. In his early childhood days, Ikeuchi started crafting pieces out of PC parts and models. Later on, when he got hang of things, he graduated to more refined gadgets and mech gear creations to express his cyberpunk love. The artist started using industrial parts and repurposing ready-made plastic to achieve the form for his creations.

Recently the funk-obsessed artist joined forces with Balenciaga to create cyborg creations under the SS 2022 campaign. His largest-ever solo work exhibiting a wide range of high-tech mechanical masks is currently on display in an exhibition in Tokyo.  These masks transform the wearer into a cyborg of sorts, giving them an alienated appearance reminiscent of a future dystopian world. His work mostly employs recycled materials like motherboards and old plastic wiring. The reason is, as he explains, “It’s just that recent products are simple and small, and their parts don’t give me much room for customization, so old products allow me to use more parts for my work.”

The solo exhibition is showcasing the custom mechanical masks, VR headsets, wearable exoskeleton developed by Skeletonics (robotics company), and interactive works developed in collaboration with Prototype Inc. (a design firm). His exoskeletons are the perfect blend between fashion, art and tech – virtually blurring the lines between them all. Working with the icons of the fashion industry, Ikeuchi gave his opinion by saying, “I think it’s great that someone is redefining my work in their own subjective way, just like I use ready-made products in my own contexts.”

The wearables sculptures here are highlighted by the series of headgear having intricate gadgets such as reality masks, headphones and flashdrives. All of the creations function lending each one of them an experimental aesthetic. That privilege is reserved for the buyers of the artwork!

Designer: Ikeuchi Hiroto

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Friday the 13th Glowing Jason Mask Light is Nightmare Ready

Because nothing says ‘Sweet dreams!’ like the glowing mask of a mass murderer in your bedroom, FireBox is selling this officially licensed Friday the 13th lamp. The lamp looks like Jason Voorhees’ iconic hockey mask from Friday the 13th Part III, and will make the perfect addition to a child’s bedroom after making them watch the movie for the first time.

The mask lamp can be powered via USB or two AAA batteries so it can be displayed (base included) or hung anywhere, and its energy-efficient LED lights ensure you’ll get the most out of its battery life. Your actual life? I mean, you did just invite a masked murderer into your bedroom.

Am I going to get up early one morning and put this mask in my place on the pillow, waiting for my wife to wake up and see it? Maybe! I guess it really depends on just how badly I want to be killed.

This puffer jacket is filled with single-use masks and shows the pandemic-related environmental issues!

The pandemic has led to a huge lifestyle shift and in the bid to stay safe, the environment is suffering from the excessive use of plastic to wrap items, chemicals to sanitize, and the millions (or billions) of single-use PPE that eventually contribute to pollution. There are photographs of medical masks floating in the ocean with the animals and washing up on beaches is a heartbreaking sight. To bring this issue to light, designers Tobia Zambotti and Aleksi Saastamoinen created Coat-19, an icy blue puffer jacket made of discarded single-use masks, organic wool, and transparent recycled laminate.

The designers are based in Iceland that still has a mask mandate. Icelandic winds can be very strong so masks that aren’t carefully discarded blow from the streets into the otherwise pristine environment. To prevent this from happening they collected around 1500 light-blue masks from the streets of Reykjavík, thoroughly disinfected them with ozone gas, and shipped them to Helsinki where they became an unusual filling for “Coat-19” – a modern puffer jacket that highlights this absurd pandemic-related environmental issue.​

Most of the disposable masks available in the market are made with a thermoplastic called polypropylene which is also used to produce poly-fill, the most common acrylic stuffing for cheap down jackets – same material, same function, different look. Some of the light-blue masks were partly filled with organic cotton wool in order to create the puffy silhouette of the trendy oversized jacket.

The outer layer is a semi-transparent breathable and waterproof laminate based made from bio-sources that let the disposable masks be visible.​ There are about 1500 masks that make the filling along with organic cotton wool. While the sight is jarring, it is a reminder we all need to practice safety sustainably. We may come out of this pandemic or learn to live with it, but the climate crisis is not something we can solve with a shot. This is a plea to use alternatives if possible so that your safety in the present doesn’t compromise on the future of the planet.

Designer: Tobia Zambotti and Aleksi Saastamoinen

LG’s PuriCare face mask gets in-built mike and speakers, giving the wearable design improved functionality

Who would have thought a couple of years earlier, that face masks would be in line for a high-tech upgrade. In fact, big brands like Razer and Mastercard deploying their precious resources and time to develop next-gen masks that ups your style quotient exponentially in the current uncertain times. Even lifestyle brands like Will.i.am or upcoming designers like Ollie Butt believe the face masks are here to stay. LG is another big name that forayed into developing a high-tech face mask last year and has been improving the design and function of the beta model ever since.

Now they’ve announced the latest version of the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier (that’s an odd naming convention) that had three fans and a couple of HEPTA filters to keep most pathogens out. The new face mask has a smaller and lighter motor, and built-in microphones and speakers. The latter helps in automatically amplifying the wearer’s voice when talking courtesy of the VoiceON technology. For that matter, the techno Razer Project Hazel face mask has a similar tech to make communication easier. The improvements on the LG PuriCare don’t stop there as it weighs just 94 grams now and has a 1,000mAh battery with a recharge time of two hours. LG says it can be worn without any discomfort for around eight hours, but hey, remember it is a mask, and it will feel a bit uncomfortable after just a few hours. LG claims in the fresh press release that the ergonomic PuriCare Wearable is designed in a way to “minimizes air leakage around the nose and chin to create a tight but comfortable seal for hours.”

The improved version targeted towards active individuals is slated to come to Thailand in August, and it was worn by the Thai Olympics team on their way to the summer games in Tokyo. Launch in other markets is dependent on the local regulatory authority approvals. So it remains to be seen how the LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier fares in real-life settings. How the users perceive it is going to be more important than anything else, so we’ll have to wait and watch!

Designer: LG

Mastercard’s Priceless Mask is a sound reactive wearable with LED lights for the Gen-Z!

It was not long ago when the clothes and shoes were the clear reflections of your personality. Add to that another accessory absolutely necessary in current times when safety is second to none. Yes, face masks have become an extension to one’s personality with the safety and style quotient attached as 17 percent of the Gen Z and millennial crowd choose unique designs matching their outfit. Understandably 14 percent of the younger generation also believes that the face masks they sport reflect their true self.

Taking this opportunity to create something stylish to pep up people’s lives, Mastercard has come up with the idea of a limited edition face mask which resonates with the sound of music or any ambient sound in the environment. Mastercard is the headline sponsor of The BRIT Awards 2021 for the 23rd year in a row, and they’ve decided to design the face mask in close quarters with CuteCircuit (wearable technology pioneers) based on research which suggests, 38 percent of UK adults actually want a tech element incorporate in their first line of safety. Another finding is that 65 percent of these individuals want to see transparent masks for those hard of hearing, and 39 percent want a color code system to indicate the time for replacing a mask. “Face masks have become a feature of our everyday lives and maybe for some time to come. By implementing interactive technology into face masks, Mastercard has made the exciting step of marrying music and technology to bring fans closer to music and each other,” says Agnes Woolrich, the Head of Marketing and Communications, UK and Ireland, Mastercard

Mastercard chose Jack Whitehall to try out the new features of this unique face mask. Not surprisingly – the English comedian, presenter, actor, and writer was utterly impressed with what Mastercard and CuteCircuit have created. He said, “The limited-edition masks are a huge step up from the average face mask; I love the way that the lights flash and react to music and even my voice.” The mask gives people another way to connect with others in social settings like in a shopping mall or public transit. The tech here is courtesy of the 8×8 micro-LED light array, which comes to life in 64 pixels arrangement whenever music is played or surrounding ambient sounds are detected. These lights are rechargeable, and you can switch them on at will with the touch of a button.

Bringing together the passions for music, fashion, and technology – the limited edition face masks are everything one would want in their modern accessories. The Mastercard face mask will be available via Priceless on 20th May, and if you already love the idea, mark your calendars!  

Designer: Mastercard and CuteCircuit

Click Here to Buy!

 

Honeywell and rapper Will.i.am just debuted a futuristic face-mask with built-in wireless earphones





I’ll be honest, nothing about that title is even remotely predictable. In fact, it gets progressively weirder with every subsequent word. You wouldn’t expect Will.i.am to release a medical product, more so, partner with Honeywell over it… but together the rapper and the OEM conglomerate collaborated over a mask that combines the best of both parties. Titled the XUPERMASK, the $299 face-mask comes with dual three-speed fans and HEPA filters, but also packs Bluetooth earphones with noise canceling audio and 7-hour battery life. I’ll be honest, the association with Will.i.am aside, the mask really looks pretty futuristic (it comes co-designed by Hollywood costume-designer Jose Fernandez, who also designed the SpaceX astronaut suits). The fact that it’s built by Honeywell lends it a good amount of credibility, and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I could actually see myself wearing one of these.

The XUPERMASK attempts at turning face-masks into a bit of a pop-culture item. It surely isn’t fluff… the mask is awaiting FDA approval, and it comes fitted with replaceable HEPA filters made by Honeywell – a company that’s built itself on designing the world’s greatest HVAC systems. The pop-culture element comes from rapper and Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am, who aims to turn the XUPERMASK into a renegade pair of wireless earphones too.

As far as the face-mask part of the design is concerned, the XUPERMASK sports a universal fit, thanks to a silicone face-seal and a high-performance elastic strap that wraps around your head. The mask is outfitted with dual-fans that work at 3-speed settings to deliver purified air directly to your face as you breathe. Air is pushed through a set of pleated HEPA filters manufactured by Honeywell, and the filters are designed to be replaced every 30 days for optimal performance. The fans themselves run for an impressive 7 hours on a full charge, providing enough usage to get you through most of your day… and to seal the deal, the mask even sports glowing LED rings around each fan for that futuristic appeal.

Aside from being just a face-mask, the XUPERMASK (pronounced Supermask, if you’re still wondering) also packs a pair of wireless earphones too. The earphones emerge from the sides of the mask, and can be docked on the mask itself on designated magnetic panels. When you want to wear them, just pop the earphones off and place them in your ear. The earphones come with Bluetooth 5.0, pairing seamlessly with any smart-device. They come with active noise-canceling (pretty impressive for a face-mask), and even house an integrated noise-reduction microphone for things like answering calls or sending voice-messages. There’s no indication of where this microphone is located, but I’d be thoroughly impressed if it was within the mask’s enclosure itself. It would essentially mean you could talk while wearing the mask and not have your voice get muffled.

The XUPERMASK comes in two colors for now – one in pure black, and another in a white + orange combination. Just visually, it does look pretty impressive. The LED rings, metallic fan covers, and those magnetic earbuds, all set the XUPERMASK apart. The mask even comes with a set of controls built on either side, allowing you to toggle fan speed, the LED light, switch on/off the ANC feature, and do basic things like answer calls or play-pause music. Off the top of my head, a fan-powered face-mask with earphones does sound like a crazy idea that might just work, and with the XUPERMASK, Honeywell and Will.i.am are betting on a future where masks will still be a common outdoor face-accessory… in which case, having wireless earphones built into your face-mask just sounds a tad bit more sensible. The XUPERMASK is currently available in two sizes, and for a retail price of $299. The mask comes as a part of a XUPERKIT (I’m guessing the nomenclature was Will.i.am’s idea), which includes a carry-case, 3 months worth of replaceable HEPA filters, a USB charging cable, and replaceable earphone tips for different ear-sizes. The XUPERMASK hasn’t received FDA approval yet, but it has been granted authorization for emergency use.

Designers: will.i.am & Jose I. Fernandez in partnership with Honeywell