Dyson is a company known for it's cutting-edge products - both in function and design. For a while their ad campaigns even leaned on the elegance of their "sleek, functional, and futuristic" products.
That future, unfortunately for us, seems to be a dystopian hellscape; or at least that's what people think after seeing their newest design.
After several years of development, Dyson has finally released a "wearable high-end audio device" (headphones) that features a magnetic face visor. That face visor functions as an air purifier, based on Dyson's "30 years of air filtration expertise."
They're calling it the "Dyson Zone."
Get in the zone with Dyson\u2019s latest technology. \n\n30 years of air filtration expertise pioneered into a wearable, high-end audio device. With a contact-free visor to supply a continuous stream of purified air to your nose and mouth. So, you can breathe cleaner air, anywhere.— Dyson (@Dyson) 1648616400
Chief engineer, Jake Dyson, on Dyson Zone technology:
“Air pollution is a global problem – it affects us everywhere we go. In our homes, at school, at work and as we travel, whether on foot, on a bike or by public or private transport. The Dyson Zone™ purifies the air you breathe on the move. And unlike face masks, it delivers a plume of fresh air without touching your face, using high-performance filters and two miniaturized air pumps."
For those who missed it in the clip above, the Dyson Zone looks like this when worn:
In the Zone: Dyson's First Wireless Headphones Pump Fresh Tunes to Your Ears and Fresh Air to Your Face https://dlvr.it/SMcpCT\u00a0pic.twitter.com/0myWOX5qlN— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) 1648616973
Dyson unveils headphones with air purifying mask https://ow.ly/pyrz50IwNiG\u00a0 @TheIET #AirPollution #DysonZonepic.twitter.com/phHmETvvIo— AMS-Composites (@AMS-Composites) 1648806302
The Dyson Zone removes both noise and air pollution. \nhttps://trib.al/Sza1SML\u00a0pic.twitter.com/XUNAkEDs9R— Nerdist (@Nerdist) 1648785853
The problem people have with the product is a two-fold one. Firstly, the tech.
The Dyson Zone air purifier works, in part, by spraying the air you exhale away from you. At other people.
The design for the Dyson Zone started pre-pandemic, so no real thought was put into the fact that the technology was perfect for literally rocketing disease at other people.
People are concerned:
Imagine spitting into a bottle for a day- and the next day, putting a spray nozzle on and casually spritzing it about wherever you go. This is terribly unsanitary, and the distance that aerosol-cloud travels is obviously something we want to minimize- not power assist.pic.twitter.com/Rm7NB2hsn3— Naomi Wu \u673a\u68b0\u5996\u59ec (@Naomi Wu \u673a\u68b0\u5996\u59ec) 1648638461
This will go perfectly with my \u201cshoot the rain at other people\u2019s faces\u201d umbrellapic.twitter.com/N8rz9k5Kbc— Bot.BA.2 (@Bot.BA.2) 1648656572
Quick question, so if you are sick would you be spreading out your germs and or virus out at high velocities out into the immediate area?— eto demerze\u058d\ud83c\udf10 (@eto demerze\u058d\ud83c\udf10) 1648624639
A product that could bring back or start another pandemic, Innovative.https://twitter.com/dyson/status/1509032673343426560\u00a0\u2026— Blaine (@Blaine) 1648713089
@Dyson is the worst design company on earth.\n\n- Hand driers that are purpose-designed to spray water, urine, and germs everywhere\n\n- Vacuum cleaners that fall apart because they're made with horribly-cheap materials\n\n- Now, headphones that spray snot everywhere!\n\nPlease stop.https://twitter.com/Dyson/status/1509032673343426560\u00a0\u2026— Alex Napier Holland \ud83e\udd8d (@Alex Napier Holland \ud83e\udd8d) 1648679512
The second major problem people have with it is ... well ... we'll let the people speak for themselves.
Sorry for thoses engineers but I cannot stop seeing thatpic.twitter.com/euIx9ykhEf— PABLO.M (@PABLO.M) 1648632598
Y\u2019all see the power ranger, right? #DysonZonepic.twitter.com/CNTg9OvUgT— AL PAL (@AL PAL) 1648755497
Loving the new Dyson Zone headphonespic.twitter.com/Q0lR5jRQZg— Liam Brennan (@Liam Brennan) 1648629015
So @Dyson's response to the @Razer Zephyr? I'm nervous, is this device going to hoover my face clean off, or are they trying to make everyone look like a discount Bane? https://twitter.com/Dyson/status/1509032673343426560\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/159uOlefeo— KingGunna (@KingGunna) 1648664646
Dyson zone air-purifying headphone 2025 model\n#SUBZERO #MortalKombatpic.twitter.com/d9jPcnT156— icojongen (@icojongen) 1648804816
Can you spot the difference? #DysonZonepic.twitter.com/d3S6nxr5rh— Aathi (@Aathi) 1648721297
Autobots roll outpic.twitter.com/gvlJ90F8Ii— Mazameander (@Mazameander) 1648664942
Theory: Maybe Daft Punk split when they heard they were an inspiration for Dyson to do this.pic.twitter.com/eCAdbqe0I8— CKTKC (@CKTKC) 1648745485
Who wore it better? #DysonZonepic.twitter.com/dWADizYOQE— Ray Pawulich (@Ray Pawulich) 1648679534
The new @Dyson air purifier headphones are a little more...apocalypticthan I was expecting from their Spring product launch. I just wanted a V16! #Dyson #DysonZone #CleanAirpic.twitter.com/hN2BrvqIoq— Modern Castle (@Modern Castle) 1648659143
Several people asked and assumed that this was an April Fool's joke from Dyson, but the announcement was made March 30. The company has also assured multiple people via social media that there is no joke, the product is slated to go on sale later in the year.