These transparent face masks let you see the person behind the PPE

Researchers have created a transparent face make interactions between healthcare workers and patients more personable.

• Due to COVID-19, face masks are required or recommended in many public places by governments around the world.
• But some are concerned they can take some of the empathy out of doctor-patient relationships.
• One company has designed a transparent, breathable mask to try to solve the problem.

Face masks, it seems, will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. They’re compulsory on public transport in many places, and in some countries, like Italy and Spain, a majority of people report always wearing one when outside of their home. And, of course, they’ve been crucial for medical professionals.

But, health benefits aside, there are concerns about some of the possible side-effects of this new reality, ranging from the impact on child development for young people who can’t see adults’ facial expressions to nurses reporting that earing a mask increases patients’ fears about treatment and the problems caused for people who lip-read.

Spurred on by these issues, one company had a clear idea for a solution: the Hello Mask.

Read More: These transparent face masks let you see the person behind the PPE