Narvalo is a young spin-off of the Politecnico di Milano that produces special protective masks made with smart materials and capable of offering superior filtration to normal FFP-3 masks. Six months after the introduction of the Urban Mask, the first model of the collection, Narvalo is about to launch the Urban Active version, the “first IoT mask in the world”. The company has sent us a prototype of the product, which is currently still in the phase of financing on Kickstarter and will be commercialized during the summer.
The prototype in question is not the mask itself, which is the same Urban Narwhal already on the market, but the Active Shield, that is, an active filter equipped with a fan and sensors for detecting the quality of the air and breathing. mounts on the front attachment of the protection device. Active Shield connects to the smartphone through the new Narwhal application, of which we have tested a beta version.
The mask is paired with the app via Bluetooth, with a simplified procedure thanks to a QR code included in the package. Once connected, the app allows you to monitor parameters such as the rate of breaths per minute, or to record respiratory performance during a walk, or a workout.
Also from the application it is possible to set the fan speed. The manual mode allows you to directly control the adjustment, while the automatic mode, the standard one, modifies the flow autonomously based on the air pressure inside the mask. Although the Active Shield is still a prototype, the automatic adjustment already works as expected, changing the rotation speed almost instantaneously. The fan is very noisy: when it reaches the maximum rpm it resembles that of a PC under load. It’s not so much the noise itself that annoys, though, when the noise changes as the speed changes in automatic mode. To limit the problem, you can set a low fan speed manually, thus defeating the convenience of the automatic function. It should always be noted that what we have tried is a prototype (we believe printed in 3D) and therefore it is possible that in the final version Narwhal can improve the appearance of the noise.
The ultra-technological materials with which the mask is made guarantee an excellent fit. The filter and the fabric that remains in contact with the skin of the face are also antibacterial and therefore limit the irritation associated with prolonged use of the mask.
The Narvalo Urban Active, when the filter is mounted, is not exactly light, especially when compared to a normal surgical mask. However, the adjustable elastic laces that hold it in place are very well calibrated and just wear it a couple of times for at least a few tens of minutes overall to get used to its weight and size.
The Narwhal designers ensure that Urban Active is also excellent for those who wear glasses, because thanks to the active filtering and the presence of the fan that regulates the air flow, the lenses do not fog up. We can confirm that this is indeed the case, although finding a suitable position for the mount is not easy. It cannot be placed on top of the mask like an FFP2 or a surgical one, because the Urban Active is too big. The glasses are thus inserted inside, between the face and the upper part of the mask. The solution works but in our case the glasses remain stuck and do not rest on the ears, with a somewhat unsightly result. Net of this detail, the good thing is that the part of the mask that covers the nasal septum is flexible, and therefore can be adapted to all physiognomies, thus ensuring perfect adhesion to the face.
After using Urban Narvalo Active for more than a week, we can say that net of the few defects mentioned, the product is promising and well designed. We are not sure, however, that there are so many potential customers who will want to spend € 249 (this is the marketing price provided by the startup) to buy a super-technological mask with active filtering. Instead, we think that Narvalo Urban Active can represent a valid and technologically advanced alternative for some specific categories, such as sportsmen who have to train in urban centers or workers who have to spend a lot of time in areas with a high rate of air pollution.
If you are intrigued by the product, check out the Kickstarter campaign, running until April 2nd. The financing quota has already been reached, but for a few days there is still the possibility to pre-purchase the Narvalo Urban Active through a contribution to the project. At the time of writing, for example, there is still the possibility of buying a single Urban Active with the active filter for 149 euros, or a pair of masks for 244 euros instead of 499 euros.