Pollution Mask | Customisable | Totobobo

Haze in Singapore

The haze is back in Singapore, fuelled by raging fires in Sumatra. Thursday’s PSI was the highest recorded here in almost two years. Experts here said on Thursday the haze might linger over Singapore for a while, due to the prevailing south-west monsoon season conditions, which typically last till late October. If the situation worsen, put on a mask when you go out may be a good way to protect yourselves. Do take note if you do use a mask:

If a mask can not seal your face, it can not protect you from the haze.

Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon when airborn particles such as dust, smoke and other particles obscure the clarity of the sky. The haze particle are very fine and easily get breathe into your lung by following the air flow.

Buoyant haze particle follow the “passage of least resistance”. The working principle of a mask is to seal off the breathing zone such that the least resistant path through the mask is the filter. Air must go through the filters before it can reach the breathing zone. The particle is trapped on the filters and therefore the air is cleaned before entering your mouth or nose.

Regular surgical mask or even N95 mask won’t help if there is gaps between the mask and your face. A gap between the face and the mask is an alternative passage with less resistance than the filter. Air and the particle will leak through the gap rather than going through the filter. One of the key concern when using a regular mask is how can one decide if the mask is truly fitting and sealing the breathing zone?

Here in Totobobo mask we provide the possibility for you to check the fit through the transparent mask. You can adjust the position, the tension of the strap, or even cut the mask to make it better fit to your face. Although we can not guarantee it will fit everyone, yet the chances of fitting is much higher than a regular mask.

In addition, judging by the colour change you will be able to tell when the filter has done it’s job and should be replaced.

For demonstration, here is a pair of filter kindly provided by Kenneth Koh of Advanturenomad. He use the Totobobo mask during his cycling trip in Vietnam. The colour collected on the mask is the result of nearly 30 hours of cycling in Vietnam from Hanoi to Dalat.

Used filter after 28 hours of cycling in Vietnam

Today we have the pleasure to deliver 30 Totobobo mask and 100 filters to Gelang Methodist School (Primary).
The resuable mask will be used by the school’s care corner to protect pupils when they get unwell or sick.

We feel it is important to contribute a part of our earning back to society. in this case it is for the protection of school children, this is completely in agreement with the original objective of the designer.

Today at 12 Hrs 34 min 56 sec, the time and date will be 12:34:56 07/08/09 which is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.
This moment will never again be repeated in your lifetime.

a moment in life

In fact none of the moment we pass everyday is going to be repeated, that’s a good reason to treasure every moment, right?

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This post is nothing about face mask or respirator. It is just a reflection of a trying entrepreneur triggered by a recent incident.

How we feel can be very different from from the facts, and the objective truth.

I was interviewed by a magazine yesterday and after learning about my sales volume the journalist asked: ” When do you think the business will break even?” Obviously my figure suggested that the business must have some distance to run before it can be break even. Without much hesitation I said I’ve already recovered what I’ve invested. I was speaking from my feeling, I really felt that way positively. Some how his question make me feel itchy, I want to find out if the business is objectively and financially balanced.

I get up this morning and can’t resist to make a quick check, from the time of the early prototyping and patenting as well as the production investment. There is no way I can recover what I’ve invested so soon. I was so wrong! I didn’t feel bad or disappointed, I am just curious how can I be so wrong? Am I just stupid? Losing money and still feel pretty good about it?

Totobobo mask display stand in MAAD/ Red Dot Design

Thanks so much for your participation in the MAAD event over the last weekend in Red Dot Design Museum. We managed to raise S$470 for the Metta Home for Disabled by selling the Totobobo mask at a special price.
We would like to thank Shannon, the organizer who invited us to join the party. It was a fun-packed weekend with many inspiring displays, from the museum as well as from the artists and the designers there. We were thrilled to meet old friends and make new ones. Amongst the new acquaintants are Mr. & Mrs. Neuerburg. Mr. Neuerburg was from Germany and works for the Chamber of Industy and Commerce. They were so impressed by the design of the Totobobo mask that they purchased two masks and made extra donation for the charity.

$470 is not a lot of money, yet this is a good start.