No one who disappoints about crazy designs, Razer revealed a smart face mask at CES 2021. And with everything going on in the world, it could be even more appealing than the concept-convertible play chair, ‘Project Brooklyn’.
While the aesthetics may not be a hit for everyone, you should know that every part of the design should play an important role, even the funky lighting, before you carry extravagant judgment on this RGB-injected medical wear.
The mask is a N95-quality surgical face covering made from recycled materials, consistent with Razer’s sustainability ethos (see the collaboration between Razer and Conservation International for more information). To reduce waste caused by disposable masks, Razer’s mask uses replaceable and rechargeable disk fans. The carrying case for the mask also serves as a loading bin and has a disinfectant UV light that promises to kill bacteria.
The RGB lighting on the mask indicates low power levels or lets you know when to replace the filter, but you can turn off the lighting if you prefer. The mask is also waterproof, scratch-resistant and face-fitting, thanks to a silicone liner that forms a seal to prevent rogue airflow. The tight push button fits a blessing for every pair of glasses out there, which the world has been able to see through a fog for many months now, as it must prevent hot air from escaping to the top.
The smartest mask in the world
The clear design of the face panel has been deliberately included for better socialization and to help those who need lip reading for assisted communication. You no longer have to wink at the old lady in the supermarket to let her know that you are smiling (even though she may be brought down by the futuristic mask).
The mask also contains interior lights to gently illuminate your face during poor lighting, so you can still wear the mask effectively in daylight. Razer is also currently patenting its ‘Razer Voiceamp Technology’, which prevents the dense seal of the mask from muffling your voice through a built-in microphone and amplifier to give your speech crystal clear.
Although the design has prototypes, Razer has made it clear that Project Hazel is a work in progress and that it will continue to be optimized through community feedback. There is currently no question of when we can expect the mask to hit the shelves or be an estimated selling price, but if there is something to give back on social media, it could be a popular product.
Razer dedicated a lot of production space in 2020 to help during the pandemic and donated one million one-time face masks to frontline workers to combat shortages. It has also released its own range of reusable cloth face masks. Razer’s efforts to keep fans healthy and safe need not come as a surprise, even though the cyberpunk design has caused so much online chatter.
Project Hazel is extremely identifiable as a Razer product and is definitely a hit among fans of technical and streetwear fashion. The design may not be to everyone’s taste, but with such an uncertain future ahead, the concepts emerging for more sustainable medical face masks could make the transition to a ‘normal’ ‘a little easier.
- View all TechRadar’s CES 2021 coverage. We cover the online show remotely to give you all the crucial technology news and launches, as well as some practical reviews.