After the Coronavirus Pandemic hit face masks became a very normal thing to wear when going out in public. In addition it has also become a fashion statement and protest symbol. With them on it's very hard to express nonverbal cues and emotions so the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne developed a new transparent face mask.
The transparent material can filter air through small pores to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, while making it easier to read facial expressions at the same time.
They are also called HelloMasks and were invented by Klaus Schonenberger, the head of EPFL's EssentialTech Center.
"It was touching to see that nurses—covered from head to toe in protective gear—pinned photos of themselves on their chests so that patients could see their faces," he said in a prepared statement. But it just wasn't the same, and the photos didn't help hearing-impaired patients, who rely on lipreading.
These masks will first be handed out to hospital staff and become available to the public later on.
This story was originally published by Delish.com.