SMART FACE MASK

Donut Robotics is a robot venture in Japan, established by engineers and designers. Donut Means - Do the Next Universal Technology. It was founded in 2014 in the garage of Fukuoka Prefecture. (Currently registered as a corporation in Tokyo, Singapore and Philippines.) Company's Vision is to create a robot that solves social problems.

White plastic - Smart Mask

As face coverings becomes the norm amid the coronavirus pandemic, Japanese startup Donut Robotics has developed an internet-connected "smart mask" that can transmit messages (converts voice into letters) and translate from Japanese into eight other languages also create minutes.

This white plastic c-mask fits over standard face masks and connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone and tablet application that can transcribe speech into text messages, make calls, or amplify the mask wearer's voice.

C-FACE was developed with the concept of "C", which is five (5Cs):

- Clear voice

- Connect with smartphone

- Cool design

- Clean material

- Combat with Coronavirus

The price is about 3980 yen (excluding tax).

A monthly fee is charged for the translation function and the minutes function.

First 5,000 c-masks will be shipped to buyers in Japan starting in September. ONO Company, a collaborator will sell product in China, the United States and Europe, too. There has been strong interest and response received by the company.   

At about $40 per mask, Donut Robotics is aiming at a mass market that did not exist until a few months ago. One aim is to generate revenue from subscriber services offered via an app that users will download.

Donut Robotics built a prototype connected mask within a month by adapting translation software developed for its robot and a mask design that one of the company’s engineers, Shunsuke Fujibayashi, created four years ago for a student project to interpret speech by mapping face muscles.

Funds Raised by ONO

ONO raised 28 million yen ($260,000) for development by selling Donut Robotics shares through Japanese crowdfunding site Fundinno. Initial target was of 7 million yen, achieved within three minutes and stopped after 37 minutes when they had reached 28 million yen.

Future Expectations

Currently, only sounds and characters are used, but in the future, it will be expanded to image systems (AR, VR, etc.). It is a new communication device in the rapidly progressing online and digital world.

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Source: www.reuters.com, www.donutrobotics.com