South Korean electronic goods behemoth LG has unveiled a new face mask that features two electronic fans and two H13 HEPA filters – the same kind used in home air filtering systems – essentially turning the face covering into a wearable, rechargeable air purifier.
Called the “PuriCare” the new hi-tech mask is expected to be released later this year. According to Dan Song, the president of LG’s home appliance and air solutions arm, the new product hopes to eliminate “the dilemma of homemade masks being of inconsistent quality and disposal masks being in short supply.”
The mask includes a patented respiratory sensor to determine the speed of the wearer’s breathing and regulate the fans accordingly to reduce resistance. When powered by a 820 milliamps per hour battery, the mask is expected to run for eight hours on the lowest setting and two hours with the fans on full speed. The rechargeable case is packed with UV-LED lights, proven to “kill harmful germs.”
LG has clarified that although the mask’s design should prevent coronavirus from seeping through, the mask can not guarantee 100% protection against infection, nor from infecting others until further testing was conducted.