Razer turns Project Hazel face mask into reality
Global gaming giant Razer said it plans to ship Project Hazel's reusable N95 face mask.
This comes after the coronavirus pandemic has radically changed the way we live our lives and face masks have become embedded in our daily lives.
And while vaccinations are taking place around the world and countries hope to emerge from their various lockdowns and restrictions this year, face masks are likely to remain for some time to come as borders and travel begin to open.
Project Hazel was revealed again in January and includes active disc fans, Chroma RGB lighting, and audio projection.
The face mask is also transparent, allowing lip-reading and the ability to see facial cues when speaking to people.
“This is a conceptual project, but we decided to go ahead to make it real and ship the smart mask,” Min Liang Tan, Razer's CEO, said in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
The Razer smart mask made its surprising debut at CES 2021 earlier this year, with detachable and rechargeable fans and a shiny exterior made of water- and scratch-resistant recycled plastic.
Respirators also function as loudspeakers, thanks to the microphones built inside so that the sound is not muted while speaking.
And Chroma RGB lighting allows the two ventilators to glow and even automatically shines a light on your mouth when it's dark, so others can see you speak.
And while it's a smart mask that's packed full of technology, Razer insists it's comfortable to wear thanks to the adjustable ear loops.
Razer hasn't committed to any kind of pricing or release date, and the company also needs approvals and certifications from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but that doesn't stop Razer from making this smart mask real.
"It's going to be a reality," says Tan. "We're going to make it happen, and I think we'll all be wearing masks for a long time to come."