Today, with COVID-19 still causing chaos around the world, face masks have become truly indispensable.?
We¡¯re seeing face masks come in different shapes and sizes, each promising to be the most effective of the lot. And now, we¡¯ve come across a face mask which is by far the most tech savvy in eliminating the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.?
The mask is developed by UM Systems and it is called UV Mask. And as the name suggests the mask is loaded with ultra-violet technology to disinfect the virus as soon as it enters the cavity and before you inhale it.
The mask is made of polycarbonate with a silicone lining on the outside to give the wearer a soft yet concealed fit. The mask is split into three stages, first being the outer plastic layer, the second layer being the N95 filter that keeps the pollutants at bay and just behind it is a cavity that holds a UV-C light to disinfect viruses.?
In case you were wondering UV lights are harmful to the eyes and skin, you¡¯re right. However, the tech being used here is UV-C which is the safest. Moreover, there is a proper barrier that separates the plastic housing with UV light, eliminating any form of contact with the human body.?
UM claims that the mask uses two state-of-the-art 265nm pure UV-C LEDs in the Sterile-Vortex. As the user breathes, the air passes through the vortex and sterilises under two 25,000 micron W/cm2 UV-C LEDs that are connected by a quartz chamber wall, making the total UV-C intensity 50,000 microns W/cm2 throughout.
One issue that glass wearers face is that of the glass fogging when someone breathes from the mask. This issue is completely eliminated with the UV Mask as the silicone lining creates a tight seal, preventing air to either enter or pass through the facial gap, thus preventing the glasses from fogging up. How cool is that?
While the mask is surely feature-loaded, it isn¡¯t cheap. It is expected to go on sale in November 2020 for a price tag of $249 (around Rs 18,500). However, the mask is currently available for pre-order for a discounted price of $109 (around Rs 8,100) on crowdfunding website Indiegogo.