Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ford Motor Company has produced millions of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of its Project Apollo initiative. Additionally, the Blue Oval brand has donated 100 million face masks to at-risk communities across the nation.
Now, Ford has come up with another innovation: a clear face-mask that both protects against COVID-19 and benefits hearing impaired individuals. The company has received a patent-pending approval for it’s new clear N95 face mask, which is expected to become available later this spring.
This mask utilizes transparent, low-cost, reusable respirators that enable a full range of human expression, allowing hearing impaired individuals who rely on lip-reading to effectively communicate with others.
Typically, a traditional solid cloth mask prevents those with hearing impairments from seeing the essential movements of the mouth and tongue, as well as lip and teeth position, which are all incredibly important in the act of reading lips.
To combat this, Ford has designed a transparent mask that allows a clear visual of the mouth without exposing other nearby individuals to potentially contaminated droplets. The mask is edged in breathable material, allowing a transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide that is just as effective as a standard N95 mask.
In addition, the mask has been carefully engineered to limit condensation and fogging. Currently, the mask is undergoing final testing prior to official release. Furthermore, Ford hopes that the ability to see others smile will inject some much needed positivity into everyday activity.
“One of the things that’s missing during the pandemic is the power of a smile,” said Jim Baumbick, Ford vice president, enterprise product line management and leader of Ford’s Project Apollo personal protective equipment manufacturing effort. “This clear respirator promises to improve interactions between neighbors, at the store, and for those who have hearing impairments.”