TECH NEWS – Dyson has also stepped into the world of wearable technology with their new headphones. The product looks certainly strange but it does something very unique: it cleans air!

Best known for its vacuum cleaners, Dyson has diversified in recent years with products such as fans and hair dryers. The Dyson Zone headphones are designed to tackle the growing problem of air pollution. But how does such a strage equipment look like? One reviewer said it was sure to “turn heads on the street”.

Chief engineer Jake Dyson said, “Air pollution is a global problem – it affects us everywhere we go. The Dyson Zone cleans the air you breathe on the move. And unlike face masks, it uses high performance filters and two miniaturised air pumps to deliver fresh air without touching your face.” Non-touch was a “must” for designers to avoid discomfort and irritation. It was also the first foray into sound technology for Dyson engineers.

The noise-cancelling headphones have a motor, fan and air filters in each ear cup. Air is drawn in through the filters, which trap allergens and pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and brake dust. This purified air is then guided to the nose and mouth through a magnetically attached visor on the bottom of the headphones. The company claims it delivers clean air to the lungs with 97% efficiency. Four cleaning modes are available, depending on whether the wearer is walkingon the street or sitting. The headphones use sensors to track breathing and exertion, then switch between modes.

They also feature:

• An app that allows users to enter their location and determine when to change the filter
• A face shield that fits into the visor

According to Pocket-lint, the product’s battery life is four hours in low filter mode and 1.5 hours in high filter mode. Britta O’Boyle, deputy editor of gadget publication Pocket-lint, wrote: “Their design is certainly eye-catching”. She ephasized the exellent sound quality and the good consturction of the headphones. Although she did not have the opportunity to test the unique headphones, so she couldn’t say anything practical about them yet and she added she doesn’t know “how silly you feel wearing it”.

The Verge called the finished product “bizarre”, stressing that it was not an early April Fool’s prank. “While mask wearing has been normalised considerably over the past two years, we’ll have to see whether customers will be willing to embrace this extremely odd-looking product.”

Dyson Zone worked for six years – and on 500 prototypes. Originally, a snorkel-like mouthpiece was paired with a backpack that held the motor and internal components. Surely, this will be one of the most unique technical developments of the year.

Source: BBC