Airbus-Backed Silent Mask Draws From Jets To Mute Voice Calls In Public

Image via Skyted

The Skyted mask is built differently from any other you donned during the pandemic. It’s the business class, nay, first class of masks. We say this because, much like those suites, this accessory promises the luxury of privacy. 

Leveraging advanced noise-absorption technology, the Skyted Silent Mask eliminates the anxiety of making confidential voice calls in public spaces, ensuring your conversations remain just that—yours, safe from prying ears.

Developed through a collaborative effort involving Airbus, the French aerospace lab ONERA, and the European Space Agency (ESA), the mask—the brainchild of former Airbus VP Stephane Hersen—hitches a ride from jet engine-dampening technology, effectively muffling the wearer's voice by up to 80%. Known as LEONAR, this technique was initially designed for jet engines.

Image via Skyted

Skyted transports sophisticated aerospace acoustics into everyday communication, with ONERA’s expertise in sound absorption—once solely the domain of aircraft—now serving to create a bubble of tranquility around the wearer, transforming any public space into a private office or gaming room.

The Skyted Mask is designed with open-air ventilation, focusing solely on trapping sound. This ensures that users enjoy maximum comfort during calls, without feeling enclosed or stifled.

Image via Skyted

Further, the gadget not only absorbs your voice to prevent it from being overheard but also blocks external noise from entering. This means you can be heard clearly by the intended recipient and, yet, not disrupt others near you.

Image via Skyted

The accompanying app provides users with valuable insights into their ‘Sound Bubble’, a measure of perceptibility and intelligibility. Through this feature, they can calculate and adjust their unique sound bubble to varying degrees of privacy, based on their needs.

Image via Skyted

For those moments when you need to be heard loud and clear, Skyted’s ‘Voice Booster’ feature comes into play. Integrated into the app, it enhances the volume of your verbalizations for clarity, even if you’re whispering or speaking softly through the mask.

Additionally, the Skyted Mask includes an embedded speaker that lets you chat with others nearby without hanging up. This feature temporarily mutes your voice in the ongoing call.

The gear has been backed by over 1,600% on Kickstarter, proving that its guaranteed silence speaks volumes.

[via Skyted]