US Game Developer Invents Unique Face Mask That Mimics Facial Expressions Using LEDs
A games developer in California has solved the issue of facial expression with a face masks that lights with an LED Light to show mouth movements while talking.
One of the staples of the ¡°new normal¡± is masks, and people across the world have already started individualizing their masks, either by design or necessity.
While some retailers are offering us masks with the logos of our favourite sports teams or cartoon characters, others are looking for more innovative features that will possibly make life somewhat easier and bring it closer to our pre-COVID normal.
A few weeks ago we heard of a Kerala-based photo studio owner who printed people's faces on to their masks, to make him/her more recognisable.
One of the biggest disadvantages of wearing a face mask is being denied facial cues to judge what the other person is trying to say or is if he/she is giving the right emotional response.
For this very reason, a US-based game developer has come up with a mask that can convey facial cues with the help of LED Lights .
Medium.com
This mask can signal to others when the wearer is speaking, and it can be controlled by a click of the tongue.
Also Read: As Public Spaces Open, Study Says Masks More Effective In Preventing COVID-19 Infection
"I was wondering if it existed, to have a face mask that just lit up with mouth shapes and so I looked around online to see if there was anything I could feasibly buy to do this and there really wasn't anything there," Tyler Glaiel, the inventor of the mask, told BBC.
Medium/Tyler Glaile
According to this blog, programmer Tyler Glaiel decided to create a custom covering with an 8¡Á8 LED matrix that picks up his voice and imitates his mouth's movement. It even allows him to smile by sensing when he makes a ¡°pop¡± sound.
The build is entirely self-contained, with an Arduino Nano, 9V power supply, and electret microphone embedded in the mask¡¯s translucent black cloth.
For those interested in getting this mask. Tyler Glaiel has shared DIY Guide for the voice-activated LED face mask.
Looks like 'Necessity is the mother of invention' is about to be taken to a whole new level.
