Amid the pandemic, wearing a face mask has become the new norm. Donut Robotics is a Japanese based startup that has developed an internet-connected “smart mask”. The mask can transmit messages and translate into eight other languages from Japanese.

It fits over a regular face mask and uses the Bluetooth feature to connect to a smartphone or tablet application. Through this facility, speech messages can be transcribed to text, calls can be made or even amplify the voice of the person wearing the mask.

The prototype was built within a month as they adapted a developed translation software and a mask design. The mask design was created four years ago by Shunsuke Fujibayashi for a student project to interpret speech by comprehending face muscles.

Taisuke Ono, the chief executive of Donut Robotics says that they used the technology from a  robot they developed to create a product that responds to how the society is reshaped by the pandemic. Their engineers came up with this idea keeping in mind the needs of the society during COVID-19.

He also says that the first batch of 5000 c-masks will be shipped to buyers in Japan from September. They are also planning to expand their sales to China, Europe, and the United States of America.

The objective is to generate revenue from subscriber services offered via an app that users will download. At a price point of $40 for each mask, they aim to establish a market that did not exist before.

By selling their shares, Ono has raised $260,000. Within a span of three minutes, they reached their target of 7 million yen