Hopefully, we’ll be at the point where masks aren’t a necessity sooner rather than later. Razer Project Hazel has so many customizations to their face mask prototype that will help ensure safety. Their design focuses on 5 key areas to help ensure the highest degree of safety with the best quality of life enhancements. Unfortunately, we don’t know whether the product will ever come to market. Razer Project Hazel is an intelligent face mask prototype. Project Hazel has two customizable light zones, which allows users to personalize their look.Īgain, Razer’s face mask is still in concept. Of course, since it’s Razer, the mask also features Chroma RGB. The mask is meant to be used repeatedly and features replaceable filters and a rechargeable battery that powers the ventilators and other onboard electronics. Sustainability is a concern when it comes to face masks, as many of them are disposable. Yes, it also has Razer Chroma RGB, so you can walk around in style. It is much more than that, with a wealth of features including an auto-sterilization function using UV lights, voice amplification technology, wireless charging and much more. Project Hazel also has a built in mic and amp, which projects a user’s voice outside of the mask. The Razer Smart Mask isn't just an N95 medical-grade respirator. Razer’s mask is transparent and has a low light mode, which illuminates the interior when it’s dark. Facial expressions don’t come through as clearly, and voices can be muffled. The case also features a UV light interior, which kills germs while the mask is charging.Ĭommunicating with a face mask on makes things harder. Unless you're in a quiet room, expect to lose most of what you say, or you'll need to speak at a higher-than-usual volume with extra enunciation.When it comes to safety, the mask is designed with N95 filters with active ventilation. And for those who don't rely on lip-reading, the plastic cover and always-running fans muffle average speech. Lip-reading is doable in certain conditions, but it requires the wearer to keep their head mostly still. And with internal lights on, nothing less than "high" will keep heat at bay and prevent internal fogging.Įither way, the lighting can't make up for natural issues with fogging, viewing angles, and visual distortion. You don't need to have the fans on to use the mask, but "low" is imperative for long-term comfort, thanks to how securely the plastic gasket fits around the nose and mouth. They operate at two speeds "low" makes a mildly noticeable whine, while "high" is loud enough to sound like a tiny leafblower attached to your face. This is where the pair of internal fans comes into play. To make lips visible, the Zephyr's internal lighting needs to be set at a high, steady brightness, which creates noticeable heat inside the mask. Published on January 13th, 2021 Razer, known for creating gaming peripherals and other gaming-related hardware, has unveiled a prototype Smart Mask at CES 2021, dubbing it the 'world's smartest mask'. Why would Razer do this? Presumably because the plastic front's shape distorts your lips just enough so that your mouth looks like it's sitting in a tiny, attached TV. At CES 2021, Razer has introduced the prototype of Project Hazel, a smart mask with a tonne of features. Razer has applied a darkish tint to this part of the mask, and the whole set is molded in such a way that manually replacing this part with a clearer option isn't feasible. But in practice, that translucent plastic creates more issues than it does lip-reading opportunities. AdvertisementĪt the right angle, a photo of the Razer Zephyr-with its translucent plastic and internal lighting-can look clear enough to allow for lip-reading. Though I'll never know how the original model actually performed, the current model definitely doesn't live up to my accessibility hopes. And clearly, something had to give, whether it was weight, heat, or cost. Still, I was concerned that such an overengineered mask might lead to too much weight or heat. I was particularly optimistic about its mix of lights, microphones, speakers, and translucent plastic, especially because I have a few friends who are hard of hearing (normal masks muffle sounds and prevent lip-reading). The original pitch made me think that Razer understood some of the common issues with face masks. Out of all those proposed "Project Hazel" features, only three didn't make the final cut, as denoted by asterisks. An ultraviolet sanitation and charging stand **.An array of interior microphones and exterior speakers **.The 2021 CES version advertised the following: The Zephyr's originally teased vision was tantalizing, even if it looked like a prop from that classic "cybergoth rave" GIF of old. So my Razer Zephyr mask has mostly been tucked in my bag, to be shown off as a party trick or worn as an experimental lark. But its spot in my bag is right next to my KN95-rated masks, and I'm always eager to switch back to those as soon as I can.
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