The 12° Mask, Lingnan’s design for hearing-impaired people, has won a prestigious international design award, and mass production is underway
The COVID-19 pandemic, which requires everyone to wear a face mask in public in Hong Kong and many other countries, presents an additional inconvenience to those with a hearing impairment as they cannot read lips or facial expressions behind a mask.
To address this issue, the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI) of Lingnan University (LU) has designed a transparent ASTM Level 3 face mask, which is fully transparent and anti-reflective, making lip-reading easier.
“Most transparent face masks available fail to meet protection standards, and semi-transparent face masks with anti-pathogen properties reflect and fog up,” explained project leader Dr Albert Ko Wing-yin, LEI Director, adding that the transparent surface area is not usually large enough for lip-reading.
The transparent 12° Mask designed by LU and inspired by stealth fighter jets, uses a polygon design, flat surfaces and sharp edges, so light refracts and significantly reduces unwanted glare.
“The edge of the mask is made of soft materials that prevent it from moving around while the wearer is speaking, and it fits close to the face,” Dr Ko said.
It is also easier to breath in than the surgical masks in general use, because an additional H13 high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which blocks up to 99.95 per cent of viruses and meets ASTM Level 3 standards, according to reports from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is in the bottom.
Its anti-viral coating protects against viruses for up to eight months, and the inner layer is designed with long-lasting anti-fog technology. The mask is reusable, but should be sanitised with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol wipes daily, and the H13 HEPA filter should be replaced every two weeks.
The mask, which has both ear-hooks and headbands, can make life significantly easier for people who wear hearing aids for prolonged periods. It also addresses the specific needs of anyone suffering from microtia or who wears a headscarf.
LEI’s CREW Wheel Control System and the 12° Mask received the Conceptual Design Gold at the MUSE Design Awards.
The development of the 12° Mask exemplifies LEI’s humanitarian technological approach, as the design principle prioritises the needs of neglected communities such as the deaf, and students with special educational needs and their service providers.
