New invention: Headphones prevent air pollution

The company Dyson combines earphones with air purifiers to help people in cities deal with air and noise pollution.

Dubbed the Dyson Zone, the wearable device combines noise-cancelling earphones and a visor in front of the nose and mouth to deliver purified air. In tests, Dyson Zone successfully filtered two types of airborne viruses. The British technology company says it created the device in response to concerns about urban air and sound pollution. The Dyson Zone, the company's first wearable device, will go on sale this fall.

Headphones equipped with Dyson air filters.

"Air pollution is a global problem that affects us everywhere we go," said Jake Dyson, the company's chief engineer. "At home, school, work and travel, whether we're walking, cycling, taking public transit or driving, Dyson Zone filters the air you breathe while you're on the go. masks, which deliver clean air without touching the face, using high-performance filters and two miniature air pumps.

Dyson says the inspiration for the device came from the shape and design of the saddle, which distributes weight evenly on the sides of the head instead of the top. The compressors in each ear draw air through a built-in filter, capturing ultrafine particles such as allergens and dust. The filter collects 99% of particles as small as 0.1 micron, including pollen, dust, bacteria and viruses. According to Dyson, this filter works successfully with two viruses including the MS2 bacteriophage and the H1N1 influenza virus. The potassium-rich carbon layer in the earcups traps gaseous city pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. The compressor then releases a stream of purified air into the wearer's nose and mouth through a face shield that doesn't touch the face like a regular mask.

Dyson emphasizes that a design that does not contact the wearer's face is essential to avoid discomfort and irritation. In addition, the visor can also be lowered when the wearer is talking and removed when not in use. The new over-ear headphones are the culmination of 6 years of development and refinement after over 500 prototypes. The original version was like a snorkel with a backpack containing the motor and internal mechanisms.

In the test, Dyson engineers used breathing mannequins fitted with mechanical lungs and sensors to suck in polluted air, simulating human breathing. They then measured the concentration of pollutants in the nose and throat to determine filtration efficiency.

Dyson warns that urban populations around the world are increasing, leading to poorer air quality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people globally breathe air with concentrations above the permissible limit. In January 2022, people in London were advised not to exercise outdoors due to high levels of pollution. About 100 million people in Europe are also exposed to noise levels in excess of recommendations for long periods of time.