Face Mask Redesign for Active Wear
(2020-2021)
In a novel pandemic, the most important strategy is to prevent the spread of a deadly pathogen between individuals. As a result, we are specifically looking at improving the use of masks while exercising. For, due to the current quarantine, most people have spent their extra time by participating in outdoor physical activities to improve or maintain their physique. Although the mask mandate enforces people to wear conventional and unconventional masks, it is quite common for individuals performing physical activities to remove their mask as they find the conventional masks difficult to breathe through, which results in an increased danger of spreading disease. To address this problem, we are looking at more comfortable ways to design the mask by either tackling the topological problems of the mask and/or the material masks are made of.
Currently, we are in the research phase of our project. Our interviewing focus is on gym-goers, doctors, epidemiologists and mask designers on their experience of wearing their mask for extended periods of time and the practicality of combating a pandemic whilst wearing masks. Overall, we want to create and patent a mask that gym-goers are willing to use on a daily basis to diminish the spreading of the pandemic. Beyond this, we hope to gain insight into the engineering and design process that comes from solving the world’s pressing problems.
Currently, we are in the research phase of our project. Our interviewing focus is on gym-goers, doctors, epidemiologists and mask designers on their experience of wearing their mask for extended periods of time and the practicality of combating a pandemic whilst wearing masks. Overall, we want to create and patent a mask that gym-goers are willing to use on a daily basis to diminish the spreading of the pandemic. Beyond this, we hope to gain insight into the engineering and design process that comes from solving the world’s pressing problems.
Team Member Bios
Anthony is a junior studying general biomedical engineering and biochemistry. Within the context of biomedical engineering, he is interested in understanding more aspects of how the human body works in terms of disease prevention and defense, how medical devices are invented, and what the design process in producing a medical product is like.
Karen is a freshman studying biomedical engineering. She is interested in using my experiences form this organization to start a career in industry as well as learning more about the design process, specifically the creative process, of developing different ways of attaching a mask to a person’s face. In the end, she would like to see an actual product that can be distribute to the public in the future.
Jake is a freshman studying biomedical engineering and cognitive science. He is really excited to learn the design thinking process that’s involved in MEDesign and and to hone his practical skills in making a physical product for a real world problem. In the end, he wants to learn more about the science of mask membranes, how the "bad stuff" in the air is filtered, and the problems of air intake due to mask filters.
Jacob is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering. He wants to learn more about the design process in creating a project from its very early stages up to its final stages. Additionally, he would like to get more hands on experience in the process of researching the problems with current inefficient medical tools and innovating them to then potentially secure ip and offer a solution to the public.
Kirsten is a junior studying biomedical engineering. She is interested in applying my experiences from MEDesign to start of her career in the industry and create her own medical device company in the future. She wants to learn more about the process behind formulating a medical device and everything that needs to be considered in order to develop a product. For the project specifically, she would also like to learn about the different stages in the process that will help us reach our goal.
Rachel is a freshman exploring different engineering disciplines. She joined MEDesign to gain a better understanding of what biomedical engineering is. While working on a design team, she hopes to learn more about biomedical engineering and the research and commercialization processes that engineered projects go through, and wants to develop better soft and technical skills through the process of the project.
Karen is a freshman studying biomedical engineering. She is interested in using my experiences form this organization to start a career in industry as well as learning more about the design process, specifically the creative process, of developing different ways of attaching a mask to a person’s face. In the end, she would like to see an actual product that can be distribute to the public in the future.
Jake is a freshman studying biomedical engineering and cognitive science. He is really excited to learn the design thinking process that’s involved in MEDesign and and to hone his practical skills in making a physical product for a real world problem. In the end, he wants to learn more about the science of mask membranes, how the "bad stuff" in the air is filtered, and the problems of air intake due to mask filters.
Jacob is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering. He wants to learn more about the design process in creating a project from its very early stages up to its final stages. Additionally, he would like to get more hands on experience in the process of researching the problems with current inefficient medical tools and innovating them to then potentially secure ip and offer a solution to the public.
Kirsten is a junior studying biomedical engineering. She is interested in applying my experiences from MEDesign to start of her career in the industry and create her own medical device company in the future. She wants to learn more about the process behind formulating a medical device and everything that needs to be considered in order to develop a product. For the project specifically, she would also like to learn about the different stages in the process that will help us reach our goal.
Rachel is a freshman exploring different engineering disciplines. She joined MEDesign to gain a better understanding of what biomedical engineering is. While working on a design team, she hopes to learn more about biomedical engineering and the research and commercialization processes that engineered projects go through, and wants to develop better soft and technical skills through the process of the project.