Filled in, was a bit dull mind…
I’d be slightly interested in particle size and whether you could open the cells up to make them slightly more breathable than the old Respro mask although I’m assuming they did there homework and didn’t just spec some standard off the shelf neoprene etc?
I’ve seen more people lately using those masks that actively restrict the breathing to aid lung function when training, not sure if this is just a fad or if there’s due benefit here.
I’d be interested to see if it’s only related to cities, I guess it would be, although how widespread are the particles in the wider atmosphere in less densely populated areas if/when moved by wind? May expand usage slightly wider?
Re materials, keep the actual breathability/sweating and touch and feel next to the skin in mind, the harder materials could cause pressure build up on the skin and the softer ones may cause irritation through sweat build up.
As an aside I travelled to Japan last year and noticed a lot of people wearing face masks on the tube, I’d always presumed this was due to high pollution in central Tokyo but the air there was about the same as the air in a standard UK town, from what I heard it was more around respect for other citizens as the wearer would put it on if they had a cold and was sneezing, makes sense when commuting in very high footfall areas.
Seems a touch solution finding a problem, and it’s been thought through many times at undergrad level so would be good to see a new take on things.
I graduated from DMU in Product back in 2003, you’ll get a project out of it at least!