- Will.i.am is launching a face mask that includes noise-cancelling earphones.
- He got the idea for the mask while flying during the pandemic.
- The mask will be available from 8 April at the cost of around R4 400.
American rapper, will.i.am is teaming up with Honeywell and IronHead Studios, who designed the Black Panther and Batman suits, to create a face mask like no other.
The Xupermask features a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system, noise-cancelling audio and microphone capabilities, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
According to the star, he got the idea at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when flying home from London.
The muso told Hollywood Reporter that he wanted to make "a mask for the traveller because the masks that we have were never intended for daily use."
He added: "I would like to add how blessed and thrilled I am with this collaboration with Honeywell. There's not that many Black entrepreneurs in tech.
The work that I do in the inner city, teaching kids computer science and robotics and engineering, this is confirmation that — though there are not that many people that look like them in the tech field — good ideas are needed. So this partnership means a lot, not only to me but to the 1200 kids that I support in the hood that I come from."
The mask, which comes in two sizes, has a seven-hour battery life and is available in white, grey, and orange or just black and orange. It also comes with a carrying case, a three-month supply of HEPA filters, ear tips, and a USB-C charging cable.
The masks go on sale on 8 April at the cost of $299 (R4 400).
(Source: Hollywood Reporter, Xupermask.com)