One of the concept devices that Razer unveiled at CES earlier this year is a high-tech face mask with functional RGB lights, called Project Hazel. Although it had a lot more technology than most masks out there, it looked like it had the greatest potential to become a real product among all the concepts that the company presented during the event. Now, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan said Yahoo Finance that the electronics maker plans to make Project Hazel masks a reality.
Project Hazel’s mask appears to have come straight out of a ninja-Blade Runner crossover film with RGB lighting and transparent front cover that allows people to see your mouth. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker that can amplify your voice when you speak. Project Hazel is expected to be as effective as an N95 mask with bacterial filtration efficiency capsules that can trap 95 percent of the airborne particles. It will also have adjustable strips to create an airtight seal and will have the ability to release CO2 and bring in fresh air.
Min-Liang Tan did not say when the mask would go into production, but explained why Razer decided to manufacture it. He said the company realized that people may still want to mask themselves, even with vaccines, as an extra precaution. In addition, many countries may not be able to vaccinate their entire population within a year or two, meaning that travelers will have to continue wearing masks for protection.
“So with that in mind, let’s go ahead and address the sustainable aspect of the mask, which is one of the big things for us,” he said. “Project Hazel is going to be a reality. We are going to make it happen and I think we will all be, unfortunately, wearing masks for a long time.”