this is a smart mask.
as we steer our way to a more voice focused world, from typing toward speaking to machines, public spaces make speaking messy.
it'd be increasingly not so nice an experience that we'd give to the pals next to us when we're talking to some random person on a call. and it would look even stranger when talking to an AI in public.
it’s of course the voice, the weird questions, the disturbance, the looks, the judgment, all of it.
but we cannot silently transfer what we're thinking through brain waves, that's too advanced tech, still in development.
and we'd want to talk out loud. it gives the freedom. it gives a satisfaction to spit everything with our voice. but in public settings and even in most indoors, it's not quite a pleasant experience to talk out loud.
we need something that takes our voice and sends it to the right application that we wanted to use or are using. it should not be a tedious process of removing that layer covering the mouth always and keeping it on.
so, for this mask, we basically need two specific things:
1. whenever we wanted to talk out loud, the mask should allow the voice to come out so that the person next to us can listen.
2. whenever we do not want the voice to come out, it should stay in and the voice would be routed to any certain application that we wanted.
so what it needs:
hardware:
a directed mic to capture clear audio.
noise filter built into the physical structure.
lightweight breathable materials.
battery that lasts a full day of regular use.
software:
voice routing logic, decides where your voice goes (out loud vs. digital).
api connections to messaging apps, ai assistants, phone calls, whatever.
mode switching, probably gesture based or a simple tap.
real-time audio processing to handle the split between physical and digital output.
privacy layer, all processing happens on device, nothing goes to cloud unless you explicitly want it to.
the app (mobile/web):
control panel for which apps get routed where.
quick mode switching.
settings for noise suppression levels.
permissions management.
maybe even a "situations" preset, like "coffee shop mode" vs "office mode" vs "transit mode"
the ideal things it should have:
ultra light, should forget you're wearing it. just like how we use pods.
local noise suppression that actually works.
good mics, the kind that pick up whispers clearly.
strict privacy controls so nothing is stored without permission.
small edge model for instant transcription if needed.
comfortable for hours, no weird pressure points or heat buildup.
maybe we get to these someday in the future. i guess it wouldn't be that long also.
and also it is said that glasses screens are a necessary evil. and with this, maybe we’d be a step closer. actually, check out this cool article from wired: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-kill-phone-screen/