I like to think that necessity being the mother of invention is a pretty noble reason to design a product. When Leandro Rolon first conceptualized the Atmoblue, he had no idea his product development cycle would smack dab coincide with the 2020 pandemic. Rolon designed the Atmoblue for himself, as an architect whose job required him to conduct multiple site visits on construction zones, and more importantly an architect based out of Beijing (which happens to be one of the most polluted cities in the world). Back in 2017 when he first came up with the idea of Atmoblue, face masks were a bit of a niche product, meant for medical personnel, people working in factories or construction, or with chemicals, and for a select group of people who wanted to breathe clean air outdoors. Rolon decided this niche audience could use a better alternative to traditional masks, and between that moment and now, a lot happened… a pandemic hit, Rolon found more people needed masks, as well as more people struggled with wearing masks for long periods of time, and the Atmoblue went from a concept to production. The Atmoblue is currently shipping, and I asked Leandro what he thinks the post-pandemic future’s going to be like for face masks, what his customers think of the Atmoblue, and whether developing a mask during a pandemic was a necessity or an opportunity. The truth is that the Atmoblue wasn’t developed as a result of a pandemic. It was developed to just help people breathe clean, cool, purified air. The pandemic just made more people realize the need for something like the Atmoblue. In fact, he tries not to call it a mask too, just because of how reductionist the term is. “The Atmoblue is an air-conditioner and air-purifier that’s small enough to fit on your face”, he says. The pandemic surely lends a usage-scenario to the Atmoblue, but Rolon says that the device holds much more potential because breathing clean air can be a necessity even without a pandemic. The Atmoblue team’s been working hard to follow WHO and CDC guidelines, but at the same time, it looks at the bigger picture. The presence of two fans and 99% air-purifying filters covers a wide range of use cases. The mask creates what’s called “positive air pressure” inside itself, which actually makes it easier to breathe clean air. You could be trekking mountains or working out at the gym, and the mask’s dual fans end up cooling you down while supplying you with fresh air. You could even be a firefighter or a sanitary worker, and the mask ensures you don’t breathe in any harmful gases – just 99.99% purified air. Conversely, you could also be a doctor or a front-line worker, and the mask serves as a two-way air-purification system, keeping the environment safe and germ-free. The Atmoblue was developed on a much smaller scale in 2018, with over 20,000 units sold (it won a couple of design and innovation awards too), but circumstances changed heavily running into 2020. Rolon mentioned the mask sported a valve back in 2018, because exhaled air didn’t need filtration in those circumstances. The newer version of the Atmoblue now comes with its own open-source valve cover (you can easily make your own or 3D print one) that blocks the air from exiting out the standard outlet. Instead, the air is made to pass through the filters again, allowing your breath to be filtered both times. Designed with a silicone face-seal, the Atmoblue creates a comfortable air-tight seal around your face, and a single-button interface lets you power the fans, allowing the mask to work like an air-conditioner for your face. One of Atmoblue’s most significant innovations is the fact that the fans come powered by AI that can tell when you’re shallow-breathing or deep-breathing. The AI controls the fan’s speed to match your breathing requirements, reducing it when you’re sitting, and increasing it when you’re walking/running/exercising. This adaptive fan speed allows the Atmoblue to work for anywhere between 3-5 hours on a full charge. During our conversation, I asked Leandro whether he knew about mask-fatigue, mask-denial, and what his thoughts were on the future of masks. Mask fatigue and denial come from the same place, according to him… he believes (and I partially agree) that the masks we have today aren’t a future-proof solution. They’re uncomfortable to wear, they make it difficult to breathe through, and they fog up your glasses and give you hot, sweaty upper lips. Having experienced mask-fatigue himself, Leandro talks about his own experiences with the Atmoblue, and that a lot of the product’s customers agree that the Atmoblue feels a lot like wearing a fan on your face. The mask is adjustable and comfortable, doesn’t pinch your nose, and is relatively lightweight. The fans are extremely quiet, and it’s easy to talk through the mask too. Moreover, the constant breeze to your nose and mouth makes wearing the mask more pleasant than not wearing it… and that silicone ring ensures that your glasses don’t get fogged up. As far as the future of masks go, Leandro and the team at Atmoblue are working on ensuring the mask serves a variety of use-cases where clean, fresh air is a necessity. Medical staff, factory personnel, construction laborers, and firemen have been steady patrons of the Atmoblue, but the mask is aiming at serving the general population beyond the pandemic too. For starters, the Atmoblue smartphone app is slated to launch around the new year. It’ll help analyze the air quality where you are, letting you know if and when you need to wear the mask. It’ll also let you know when you can take the mask off, so that your battery and swappable air-filters last longer. Leandro feels that the future of masks will be much more than about just purifying air. He envisions a future where smart masks like the Atmoblue will help serve as health-wearables, being able to actively analyze the air you’re breathing in but also breathing out. He mentioned that a mask that detects illnesses, conditions, and even biostats like your blood sugar is in the works. Just like your smartwatch can analyze your heartbeat or count your steps, the future of smart masks will enable a wider approach to healthy living. While that future is years away, the Atmoblue team is more focused on the current crisis we have on our hands. We covered the mask back in April, when the product was still under development, but now, the Atmoblue is shipping out to consumers. The app is scheduled to roll out in a matter of weeks, while the mask can be ordered using the link below. The Atmoblue ships worldwide, and if you order one today, it’ll almost certainly reach you before Christmas. Have a safe, socially-distanced, and happy holiday season! Click Here to Buy Now: $119 $199 (40% off). Hurry, for a limited time only! Raised over $1,300,000. ATMOBLUE is the world’s first wearable, smart air purifier. Their patented air filtration system uses industrial grade, replaceable filters, blocking 99.9% of air particles. Replaceable Industrial Grade H13 HEPA Filters – Blocks 99.97% of air particulates – Average use time is 150 hours – High Quality, Multi-Fold design Traditional filters are flat and are quickly consumed. Their unique filters are made of up meticulous folds, compressing the flat surface area of two 9.5 squared inch sheets, into two compact filter blocks which slide right into your mask. N95 < N99 < H13 HEPA Filters You may have heard the term N95. This simply means 95% of air particles are being captured. At the higher end of the spectrum, N99 (99%) masks are offered for more industrial applications such as painting or waste cleanup. Moving one step further ATMOBLUE’s, H13 HEPA filters block 99.97% of particles which are 0.3 microns in diameter or larger. To give you a bit of context, one strand of human hair is about 75 microns across. Innovative Air Flow Technology – Dual, high-speed, centrifugal fans continuously supply filtered air to create a refreshing breathing environment. – Three airflow control settings. Users adjust speeds as needed. – Positive Air Pressure allows users to breath effortlessly with zero resistance. The term positive airflow means excess air or “positive air” being pushed into the mask and out through its vents. Because of this solution positive air pushes out exhaled air increasing the overall effectiveness of the mask by removing unwanted bacteria from the breathing zone. Designed for the most extreme conditions ATMOBLUE’s multiple airflow settings allow users to switch between light mode, when sitting idle on the train or a car, to high strength when jogging through the city or on the job. Depending on your use, such as fan speed, your rechargeable ATMOBLUE system runs continuously from 3 – 5 hours. When battery life is running low a red indication light notifies users when to recharge. Simply plug into any USB port until your indicator light turns white again. Lightweight Silicone Seal Dermatologically friendly silicone creates a soft but airtight seal keeping good air in and bad air out. ATOMBLUE won’t leave marks on your face after each use and can be worn with glasses without fogging up vision. The unique silicone seal was designed with users in mind. Data of over 1000 individuals’ faces was compiled and then the team created a unique solution that adapts to various sized faces. ATMOBLUE’s soft, lightweight silicone seal contours around the user’s face leaving enough room for movement and flexibility. Patented Head Strap for Maximum Range & Comfort With the unique strap-channel design, the continuous head-strap flows through the mask, around your neck and head, creating a full range of continuous motion. Designed with athletes in mind they used high-quality, flexible, materials allowing for a stretch when using your mobile device or looking around your periphery. Interchangeable Skins Available in four color configurations: Smoke, Pearl, Cement Grey, and Light Pink. Replaceable covers allow your mask to transform and adapt to your style and environment. Simply remove the magnetic HEPA caps and pop off the front of the mask. Once you’ve chosen one your ideal color skin, simply attach and go. Designed to be worn around your neck when not in use or in your carrying bag, ATMOBLUE’s compact design features a lightweight design of only 190 grams. APP Control All ATMOBLUE units come standard with built-in software & APP control. The device management APP provides real air-time quality indicators, tracks personal metrics and most importantly offers dynamic air flow controls. Click Here to Buy Now: $119 $199 (40% off). Hurry, for a limited time only! Raised over $1,300,000.