- A former Columbia professor developed the Seeus95, an adhesive silicon mask without earloops.
- It’s made of silicone and chitosin, a polymer used to heal skin.
- The project has raised over $300,000 on Kickstarter.
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Masks work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by blocking contagious particles, and the CDC recommends everyone wear them to decrease transmission of the virus when social distancing is impossible.
Medical grade N95 masks are the most effective, followed by surgical masks. With people outside of healthcare professions suddenly masking up, designers and entrepreneurs have been designing all kinds of other solutions.
Alice Min Soo Chun and her team of designers are crowdfunding the Seeus95 mask, an adhesive, clear silicone mask, on Kickstarter. The fund has already raised more than $300,000, far beyond the $25,000 goal with less than a week to go and over 3,000 backers. Chun is a former professor of architectural design and material technology at Columbia and Parsons.
The Seeus95 mask has not been evaluated by the CDC and requires further testing and expert opinions. The designers are working with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to lead testing of the filter. Crowdfunding ideas also don’t always result in actual products, although Chun has delivered on four previous campaigns.