Tech

Razer’s N95: Voice boost, active ventilators, LED lights in mask prototype

The annual deluge of CES gadgets and gizmos usually tries to predict what consumer-grade tech will look like in living rooms of the near future. But after a year like 2020, bendable TVs and surround-sound systems seem less interesting than a more pressing category: tech to help people go outside during an ongoing pandemic.

That’s why we’re taken by the Razer Project Hazel, arguably the most high-end face-mask concept we’ve seen since COVID-19 began ravaging the globe. This N95 mask concept was revealed as part of Razer’s CES line of gamer-centric products on Tuesday, and it showed up as a surprise entry alongside the company’s usual fare of laptops and gaming peripherals.

16.8 million colors on your face? Sure, why not

Razer’s sales pitch alleges that this shouldn’t be surprising at all, since the company repurposed at least one of its production lines to pump out over one million disposable, surgical-grade face masks in 2020. From there, someone at the company decided to go one further and make what looks like a fancypants, LED-smothered gamer mouse… for your face. Project Hazel immediately reinforces the company’s affinity for customizable lighting grids, thanks to two rings of light—which support 16.8 million colors, because, why not—circling the mask’s ventilation slots. We wouldn’t be shocked if Razer eventually let gamers sync these light grids with nearby mice and keyboards.

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