Update September 2020: Unfortunately no new UV-protecting mask has been designed in the course of this project. However it has spun off a development project for a low-cost UV meter. This meter called LUVI has been successfully tested by users and a series of devices has been produced and is now in use by children afflicted by XP.See the LUVI project.

UV-mask is a UV-mask meant for people with a highly sensitive skin. It features 100% protection from UV and has an integrated fan. The full design (electronics, mechanics and software) is available under free licenses and the design is exclusively made with free tools.

The project started with ThePort hackathon 2015 to help to children suffering from Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a genetic disorder that causes extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Special equipment has been developed to protect them from UV exposure and is in use since 2014 but it still has some issues with acoustics, temperature control and durability. The association THE Port started this project to help the children afflicted by the disorder and their families.

The aim of this project is to create a mask with several improvements:

1. a more effective ventilation system to reduce the amount of steam that forms on the screen of the mask, especially in winter, and to improve wearer comfort in warm temperatures,
2. a more ergonomic visor design with better acoustic properties to avoid reflection of the wearer’s voice,
3. different sizes of mask, i.e. one size for children and another for adults and teenagers,
4. a technical material for the hood,
5. a battery system indicating the run-time of the ventilation system,
6. improved communications possibilities.

Work on the mask in October 2015 (click picture to enlarge)

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