China’s answer to Fitbit is creating a face mask that disinfects itself with UV light and also shows your face to make it easier to unlock your iPhone.
Amazfit, the smartwatch brand from Xiaomi-backed wearables maker Huami, introduced a prototype of a mask it’s calling Aeri. It’s designed to protect against viral diseases like Covid-19 as well as air pollution. The concept also includes a modular design that can be personalized by attaching a ventilation fan to cool down your face and an Air Quality Index (AQI) sensor. The UV light can be turned on when the mask is not in use to increase the lifespan of the attached air filters.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your hands on the mask anytime soon. Huami told us that the mask prototypes called X and Y are still in development. The approval, design and production process could take “a couple of months or even a year,” a company representative said.
Meanwhile, Huami has been using data from its Mi Band and Amazfit wearables to create a model that might be able to warn about the next Covid-19 outbreak.