Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas launches high-tech face mask
Will.i.am, the frontman of the iconic group Black Eyed Peas, may be known for producing chart-topping hits, but over the years he's become a tech innovator, and is about to launch his technologically advanced face mask called the XUPERMASK.
In an interview with USA Today, the rapper revealed that the inspiration behind his high-tech face mask is a day-to-day problem that people face amid the pandemic.
He said, “What I saw out there in the world was people had loose-fitted masks, and they had earbuds. When they got phone calls, they took the mask off and the earbuds fell on the floor, then the mask fell on the floor, and then the whole point was pointless because everything got dirty."
So, in order to address this problem, the rapper designed the XUPERMASK, with help of N95 manufacturer Honeywell and Jose Fernandez, the designer of Elon Musk's SpaceX suits and the masks designs of Spider-man, Blank Panther and Tron.
An extended look with @iamwill and @ironheadstudio at the early steps of #XUPERMASK coming to life.
-- XUPERMASK (@xupermask) March 29, 2021
Shop on 4.08 exclusively at https://t.co/oBGcrm6H4b pic.twitter.com/JsjxOEiK7L
President and CEO of Safety and Product Solutions at Honeywell, John Waldron, told USA Today that working on the XUPERMASK with Will.i.am was “an obvious fit.”
Waldron said, “When we were confronted with this idea of partnering with a world-renowned innovator to solve a very specific consumer problem around having a great performing and fashionable mask that you could use for the whole day, it was just an obvious fit."
Before will.i.am. thought about producing the technologically advanced face mask, many celebrities and designers have already come up with their own face masks such as Jason Momoa, Britney Spears, and The Weeknd.
Most of them were more fashion-forward or were created to raise funds for charity and not really as high-tech as that of will.i.am's.
The XUPERMASK has LED day glow lights, noise cancelling audio, microphone capabilities, three-speed fans, HEPA filters (a type of mechanical air filter), Bluetooth connectivity, a magnetic earbud docking system, a 7-hour battery life and adjustable straps.
It also comes with a charging cable, a carry case, three months' worth of HEPA filters, and different-sized ear tips.
The Future is Here ➖ @iamwill Presents: #XUPERMASK. The high performance tech wear designed with @ironheadstudio
-- XUPERMASK (@xupermask) March 27, 2021
Click the link below to be alerted when Drop 1 is live. Coming soon 4.08 at https://t.co/WDP77ll4u8 pic.twitter.com/oMF6h2UOQn
Although it has yet to be cleared and approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), it has been authorized by the FDA for emergency use by the public and medical frontliners.
The XUPERMASK's retail price is $299 or around Php14,538.88. It will drop on its official website on Thursday, April 8.
Although some states in the U.S. have decided to drop the face mask mandate, will.i.am told Axios that he believes people will still continue to wear masks.
The musician-entrepreneur said, “I wish it wasn't the case, but masks will be here for a while.”
Not known to many, Will.i.am had been a tech innovator for a while now. He became a director of innovation for Intel and had invested in Tesla and Beats Electronics.
Moreover, his fashion tech company, i.am+, which specializes in “wearable products,” has acquired some tech products such as smart home company Wink, and that of Israeli startup Sensiya, which focuses on context-aware technology for mobile and wearable devices.
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You might also want to see luxury face masks and face shields, such as those produced by Burberry and Louis Vuitton.
Or check out these fashionable face masks created by celebrities and designers amid the pandemic in the gallery below.
