An unusual hybrid of headphones and a Dyson respirator will protect you from noise and dust

Dyson has introduced a futuristic device The Zone, which combines active headphones with a noise reduction system and a device for cleaning inhaled air. As explained in the company, noise and dirty air are constant companions of modern cities, and there is a tangible need to protect people from them. However, the old technologies, respirators and earplugs, are no longer relevant, and new, “smart” devices are needed.

The front part of The Zone is movable, it goes down when walking and rises if you need to talk or drink coffee. The module does not fit to the face, there is a gap left through which two tiny pumps supply air. It is pumped through the holes in the arches, filtered and fed to the nose already cleaned, and it is stated that this approach will protect a person from many pathogens in the air.

The air filter has four modes of operation, the headphones have three. The basic one cuts off all sounds, the emergency one muffles noises, but transmits important signals, such as sirens of city services or alerts over a loudspeaker. The third mode is conversational, all protection is disabled, and the front part moves away from the mouth. Dyson did not specify how much The Zone weighs, how long it runs on a single battery charge, how much the device costs.

Experts have doubts about the ability of The Zone to protect the user from coronavirus. In theory, it is compatible with the FFP2 respirator, but there is no evidence. And if you apply the mask as it is, then there is a risk that microbes from the body will fly around faster than usual under the action of air pumps. That is, the user himself seems to be protected, but turns into a source of threat to others.