N95 goggles, gamer style: Razer’s crazy full face mask prototype revealed

The annual deluge of gadgets and gadgets CES typically tries to predict what mainstream tech will look like in living rooms in the near future. But after a year like 2020, foldable TVs and surround sound systems seem less interesting than a more urgent category: technology to help people get out during an ongoing pandemic.

That’s why we’re drawn to the Razer Project Hazel, arguably the most premium face mask concept we’ve seen since COVID-19 began to ravage the world. This N95 goggle concept was revealed on Tuesday as part of Razer’s CES lineup of gamer-centric products, and it emerged as a surprise entry alongside the company’s usual price tag for laptops and peripherals. of game.

16.8 million colors on your face? Sure why not

Razer’s selling point alleges that this shouldn’t come as a surprise at all, since the company has reassigned at least one of its production lines to pump over a million surgical-grade disposable masks in 2020. As of 2020. there someone from the company decided to take it a step further and create what looks like a fancy, LED-muffled gaming mouse … for your face. Project Hazel immediately reinforces the company’s affinity for customizable light grids, thanks to two light rings – which support 16.8 million colors, because why not – circling the mask’s ventilation slots. We wouldn’t be shocked if Razer finally let gamers sync these light up grids with nearby mice and keyboards.

After laughing at this aesthetic exaggeration, however, we generally nodded in agreement with Project Hazel’s concept. The system, as advertised, would feature an active ventilation system, the slots of which fit into a charging case that also serves as an ultraviolet disinfectant. A silicone protector would seal users’ cheeks and noses, while a voice modulation system and clear plastic face would go the extra mile to keep speech volume and mouth visible – things you don’t. Absolutely not found in a standard cloth mask. Razer goes a step further by ensuring your face is visible by offering optional inward-facing lights.

For now, Razer is hiding behind the “concept” label. Without a live demo showing exactly how it works, or some semblance of a release date, price, or battery life on a single charge, Razer’s concept could indeed be impractical, or costly vaporware. prohibitive at launch. Additionally, there’s the issue of fan noise and battery-powered heat, both of which must be distributed cleanly to ensure the Project Hazel sales pitch is comfortably left the mask in public for long periods of time.

As an open-eye mask, Project Hazel is certainly less dramatic in its construction than the Narwall mask, an $ 85 option currently on sale that lacks active ventilation systems (or clear faceplate) and instead relies on a SCUBA. -like, all-about design. (At a quick glance, this looks like a great cosplay option for Snorks At the time of going to press, the best mask option we’ve found with clear mouth windows, as part of our full mask buying guide, is more difficult to recommend thanks to CDC guidelines. Even though the Razer prototype never appears as a full-fledged product, it’s hard to imagine that the rest of the international tech industry won’t go ahead with more ideas on how to navigate safely. safety in the outside world – long before COVID-19 vaccination became a social issue. If Razer sends us any updates about Project Hazel becoming a retail product, we’ll keep you posted.

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