Japanese researchers create a ‘smart’ mask to protect against COVID-19, with a built-in speaker and software that can translate speech into eight different languages
- A Japanese tech company has developed a new ‘smart’ mask powered by Bluetooth
- It will have a built-in speaker and translation software for eight languages.
- The mask is currently planned for release in Japan, but the company says there has been a lot of interest from buyers in the US, Europe, and China.
A Japanese technology company has developed a new Bluetooth smart mask that uses a speaker to amplify a person’s voice.
Called ‘c-mask’, the device can also convert a person’s speech into text and then translate it into eight different languages through a smartphone app.
The mask was developed by Donut Robotics, which initially raised seven million yen, or around $ 260,000, to fund its development through the Japanese crowdfunding site Fundinno.
Donut Robotics has developed a new smart mask to protect against COVID-19 transmission, which also contains a built-in speaker to amplify a person’s voice and connects to a smartphone app that can translate speech into eight languages.
According to Donut, about 5,000 masks are currently planned to be produced and distributed in Japan this September, where they will sell for 3,980 yen, or about $ 37.
The company will also charge an additional monthly subscription fee to access translation services, according to a report in Japan Today, although the exact price has not been announced.
Supported languages include English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.
Users will also be able to use the mask’s built-in microphone to create recordings of business meetings that will then be stored on the connected smartphone.
The mask was designed as a shell intended to slide over any standard commercial mask used to protect against COVID-19 transmission, with the straps passing through two small slots on each side.
The mask was based, in part, on one of the company’s previous projects, a desk assistant robot called ‘Cinnamon’ that is used at reception desks and customer service desks to help answer basic questions.
Called ‘c mask’, the device is a casing that can slide into any traditional face mask. 5,000 masks will be shipped to Japanese buyers in September and will sell for around $ 37, or 3,980 yen
The mask will convert the user’s speech into text and then translate it into French, Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Indonesian, Korean, English, or Japanese via a smartphone app
Donut Robotics says it has also received a lot of interest in the ‘c mask’ from buyers in the US, Europe, and China.
“We worked hard for years to develop a robot and have used that technology to create a product that responds to how the coronavirus has reshaped society,” said Taisuke Ono of ‘Donut Robotics.’
Donut is finally hoping to be able to launch the mask outside of Japan, and says it has received wide interest from buyers in the United States, Europe and China.
Mask c could also evolve to support other features, including some augmented reality features, which Donut says will be possible to implement using a built-in Wifi receiver.
However, the company has not described how AR features would be integrated into the mask.
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