It has been over a year since the pandemic COVID-19. One of the changes this situation has brought is the mask. The mask has entered our lives for good and throughout this time, we have seen a wide variety of masks.
Now, the US government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has announced a competition to design the " next generation mask , " inviting people to create a mask that's better than the current ones. A mask that most people will want to wear. The prize for the winners will be a total of $500,000 .
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The contest, called the “Mask Innovation Challenge,” was created in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to address some of the most common complaints people have about masks. These complaints include: fogging up glasses, skin irritation, feeling short of breath, barriers to communication, and more.
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According to the US government, the competition will have two phases. The first phase, which focuses on the “design” of the mask, is divided into two parts, one that looks at redesigning existing masks and another that focuses on new technologies and materials. The first phase will single out 10 people as winners, each of whom will receive $10,000 to build a prototype of their mask.
The second “proof-of-concept” phase will require contestants to respond to a hypothetical scenario with a brand-new mask design, not based on any existing mask. Participants in the second phase will submit prototypes of their masks for testing by NIOSH. The U.S. government agencies said they would provide more information about the second phase at a later date.
Holding a contest to design a “better” mask could be helpful, as it might actually lead to better masks. But this move could also indicate that masks will be around for a long time to come, not just in America, but in most countries. Even if more people get the COVID-19 vaccine, we’re not sure that masks will ever be mandatory.
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The Biden administration has taken steps to address some of the concerns people have about masks. Of course, there's no guarantee that most people will be more comfortable wearing masks because they won't fog up their glasses (for example).
The deadline for submissions to the first phase of the “Mask Innovation Challenge” ends on April 21.
Source: The Verge
