The Xupermask.Honeywell
- Will.i.am teamed up with Jose Fernandez, a SpaceX spacesuit designer, to create the Xupermask.
- The Xupermask is a bluetooth-enabled smart face mask with HEPA filters and built-in headphones.
- The $299 face mask is being produced with Honeywell and will be available Thursday.
Musician and entrepreneur Will.i.am has teamed up with Honeywell and Jose Fernandez to create a nearly $300 smart face mask with built-in headphones.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
If you don't recognize Fernandez's name, you might recognize his work. He's a prolific superhero costume designer in the film industry, and was most recently the designer behind SpaceX's spacesuits.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
Now, Fernandez has pivoted from film and space to create a new smart mask with Will.i.am, who's had experience in the hardware and wearables industries.
Will.I.am.
Honeywell
Will.i.am's dabbling in tech products has spanned from a 2012 flashy iPhone camera case, to a 2014 smartwatch widely panned by critics, to a 2017 augmented reality app that brought his own comic book to life.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
Source: Insider (1) (2), The Verge (1) (2)
Now, the musician and entrepreneur is making another bet on the tech industry with a medical care twist.
Will.i.am and the Xupermask.
Honeywell
The reusable Xupermask will be the crossroads of Will.i.am's two expertise areas: music and tech.
Will.i.am and the Xupermask.
Honeywell
With vaccine rollout continuing and the hopeful end of the COVID-19 in near sight, you might think this latest product is a late bet on face masks. However, Will.i.am disagrees.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
He believes face masks will stick around even after COVID-19 is over, similar to how countries hit by SARS continued to wear masks years after the pandemic, according to an interview with the New York Times.
The Xupermask and John Waldron, the president and CEO of Honeywell.
Honeywell
The bluetooth-capable masks' futuristic appearance reflects its high-tech features, which include LED lights and three-speed fans for more air flow.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
Gone are the days of wearing a mask and pair of headphones at the same time. The Xupermask will also come with noise canceling earbuds, a microphone, and volume adjustments.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
The masks are still lightweight despite all of these technological advancements, according to its maker.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
The Xupermask kit also comes with three-months worth of HEPA filters for a literal added layer of protection.
The Xupermask kit.
Honeywell
But if you're prone to forgetting when to charge your devices, this mask may not be the best fit for you.
The Xupermask, Will.i.am, and John Waldron, the president and CEO of Honeywell.
Honeywell
Unlike our everyday medical masks, the Supermask's batteries will have to be recharged via a USB-C cable after seven hours of use.
The Xupermask.
Honeywell
The new smart mask will be available for purchase in black or white with two different sizes beginning Thursday.
The Xupermask, Will.i.am, and John Waldron, the president and CEO of Honeywell.
Honeywell