--- title: "Will This Gigantic Air-Filtration Helmet Protect Against COVID?" description: "Bubble Head As pundits keep reminding us, the coronavirus pandemic is likely to shift social norms for a long time. Now, a crowdfunding campaign by a startup called VYZR Technologies is testing the limits of what members of the public will do to try to protect themselves — by marketing a gigantic air-filtration helmet that […]" date: "2020-05-18" modified: "2020-05-18" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/air-filtration-helmet-covid" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "Pathogens" - "Viruses" tags: - "coronavirus" - "covid19" - "ppe" - "the digest" --- # Will This Gigantic Air-Filtration Helmet Protect Against COVID? ![This startup is selling a gigantic air-filtration helmet that it says will filter out the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus. Does it work?]() *\Image: BioVYZER/Futurism\* ## Bubble Head As [pundits keep reminding us](), the coronavirus pandemic is likely to shift social norms for a long time. Now, a [crowdfunding campaign]() by a startup called VYZR Technologies is testing the limits of what members of the public will do to try to protect themselves — by marketing a gigantic air-filtration helmet that it says will filter out the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus. ## Nose Itch The BioVYZR helmet seals off the wearer's head in a large clear covering, and uses a small fan to circulate air through an N95 filter. The company says it already has a prototype, and a single helmet will run you $171. It's worth noting that it's unclear how effective N95 are at preventing the spread of COVID, though there's a growing consensus that they're [at least somewhat helpful](). ## Special Delivery All the regular caveats about crowdfunding also apply, especially with VYZR's ultra-ambitious ship date of May 30 for early backers. But, as the world buckles under the strain of the pandemic, many are ready to try anything. Some members of the public have already taken drastic action to protect themselves from the coronavirus — even [wearing hazmat suits in public](), though experts have cautioned that the bulky suits aren't effective without proper training. **READ MORE:** [BioVYZR: Venture Out & Breathe Easy]() \[*Indiegogo*\] **More on protective gear:** [We Asked Experts Whether You Should Wear a Hazmat Suit in Public]() ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()