Air Device Light: The comfort of a full-face mask protection

Using face coverings has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to minimize the spreading of COVID-19 through droplets emitted by infected people when breathing, talking, coughing, etc. Despite some initial resistance, after nearly a year of coping with the pandemic, most people got used to consider masks as an essential accessory in their everyday life.

But how long is the public willing to bear the drawbacks of putting a mask on?

By 2050, over two-thirds of the world population will live in urban areas, which are typically more polluted than the countryside. A research carried out in the Italian pandemic hotspots revealed people exposed to a higher level of pollution may have a greater chance of getting a more severe form of COVID-19. Scientists attributed this to the dual detrimental effect of particulate matter (PM), which not only acts as a carrier for the virus but also damages the lungs. Another study, conducted in the US, found each pollution particle unit (only 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5) introduced in the air prior to pandemic time increased the COVID-19 death rate by 15%.

Considering new pandemics may arise in the future and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to be the leading death cause globally by 2030, wearing a mask may become commonplace in the years ahead.

Therefore, it’s crucial to design a face mask ensuring full protection without compromising people’s comfort.

This article presents a novel technology, Air Device Light, and compares it to the masks currently available on the market.

Air Device Light vs conventional masks

Some of the most common personal protective equipment (PPE) comprise single-use face coverings, disposable surgical masks, N95 masks, and reusable respirator. Each PPE is designed to serve a specific purpose, therefore presenting pros and cons based on the application considered.

For instance, single-use face masks are more comfortable to wear but imply a much lower level of protection compared to N95 and reusable respirators devices, which requires a tighter fit and may cause breathing discomfort.

This begs a burning question: Is there a foolproof mask which could overcome the need of finding a trade-off between filtration efficiency and comfort?

The Air Device Light seems to be the answer, as it is much more than just a full-face mask.

Let’s dive in to find out more about the advantages posed by the Air Device Light over the standard PPEs.

1) Full protection

The prevalent downside of the standard PPEs is that half-face masks do not offer full protection.

What’s the matter with that?

According to recent studies, Coronavirus may enter the human body through ears and eyes mucosa.

Besides the superior purification rate provided by the integrated high efficiency (H14) particulate air (HEPA) filter (retaining 99.9% of the airborne particles with a diameter below 0.3 microns), the Air Device Light would block off all the possible exposure routes to the COVID-19 pathogen.

2) Comfort

Last May, YouGov and the Imperial College London conducted a poll about the top reasons why Britons would not put a mask on. 76% of those not wearing a face-covering said it was because having a mask on would have made them feel uncomfortable.

However, people engaged in the survey did not try the Air Device Light. This new mask, whose structure weighs only 245 g, is engineered as to avoid pressure on the face, which is cuddled by cushions and pads. These features make the device apt to be worn for long hours (up to 16 hours with a single charge) without causing any discomfort.

Based on a survey commissioned by Vision Direct and conducted on 2,000 British adults last July, two of the most common circumstances people go mask-free are when cycling or doing other types of physical activity.

Fitness lovers will be happy to know that the ergonomic weight distribution and the secure head positioning hold the Air Device Light in place without stressing neck and shoulders. This optimized configuration makes this mask compatible with any type of sports activities.

3) Ease of breath

As mentioned earlier, the safest standard masks may hinder respiration. Science suggests this effect may be exacerbated when practicing sport. The trouble is that none of the conventional PPEs are designed to be worn when doing exercise.

Some researchers reviewed the existing literature on how wearing a range of standard face coverings affects breathing while exercising. The study reported people experiencing dyspnea (i.e. a sense of breathing discomfort) and higher face temperatures. In addition to an increase in these perceptions, the respiration capacity of people having severe cardiopulmonary diseases was reduced when exercising with a mask on.

This problem would not arise when wearing the Air Device Light. Rather, this high-tech solution would enhance breathing. In particular, a battery-powered fan blows air through the integrated HEPA filter. This creates positive pressure inside the personal air space, thus facilitating respiration. Plus, the smart device’s airflow can be remotely controlled via a mobile app, whose artificial intelligence (AI) will be able to learn your breathing pattern and adjust to it. Also, it will be able to notify the user when the battery is low or the filter needs replacing.

Essentially, the Air Device Light is a face mask providing full protection against the virus with an air-respirator incorporated into it. This is vital for vulnerable people suffering from pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

4) Visibility

Fog and moisture formation is a flaw common to all types of conventional half-face masks. The above mentioned survey revealed that 3 out of 10 glasses wearers reported mask-induced lenses fogging as the primary reason not to wear a mask.

Conventional face coverings have obscured people’s smiles. It may sound like a minor issue, but it’s not.

50% of the Vision Direct survey’s respondents loathed not seeing each other’s smiles.

But there’s more to it than meets the eye (or the smile).

Smile is contagious and several studies reported the beneficial effect of smiling on the brain by promoting the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormone. That’s why it’s important one can expose and see a smiley face.

For the joy of who wears specs, the Air Device Light is fog-resistant thanks to the internal air circulation. Also, when having the transparent visor on, people may feel like they are wearing nothing but a smile.

5) Environmental impact

Last June, researchers predicted 129 billion disposable masks per month would be used worldwide during the pandemic. Being not recyclable, these face coverings will add to the global plastic pollution.

As estimated by London’s Global University’s Plastic Waste Innovation Hub, if people were to wear reusable masks, a 95% waste reduction could be achieved.

Unlike disposable masks, the Air Device Light can be reused, therefore closing the safety loop in an environmentally sound way.