LED Punk: Qudi Mask developers are back to asking for money from fans, vowing to rock their life behind the (LED) mask again. The new Kickstarter campaign is going strong, so the Qudi Mask 2 will definitely arrive on the market soon(ish).
Qudi Mask 2 is a fully interactive LED mask designed to convey digitally augmented social interactions minus the stress. The developers opened a Kickstarter campaign asking for € 9,324. They blew that goal out of the water and are now at € 18,120 with nine days left.
These types of masks aren't new. You can find similar products on Amazon for about $30. Qudi is looking to get at least $130 for preorders on Kickstarter. The mask animates the mouth in sync with what the user says behind the integrated LED display. It also changes expressions through gesture recognition while preserving user privacy.
The Mask 2 comes three years after Qudi's first version, engineered to express "every emotion imaginable" – well, at least 34. The mask is available in three designs with "unique" features and expressions.
The "Robot" has eyebrows, the "Kawaii" has glyphs, and the "XX" one has unique visual effects. While users can control the masks manually, there's an integrated "dynamic mode" through which the mask can decide what kind of digital emotion to convey based on the user's behavior and surroundings.
The Qudi Mask 2 has many visual effects to customize each user's unique look. Swappable cases add to the customization possibilities, with specific models capable of "unlocking" additional digital skins like "Cat."
Qudi created the first Mask 2 prototype in April 2024 and expects to complete development by August. The company hopes to have the first batch of Mask 2 devices manufactured by October and ready for retail by December 2024.
Qudi's FAQ page says making the Mask 2 comfortable was a priority and that users can even wear their glasses under the mask. The device comes with two years of firmware updates and optimizations for the mobile app. The battery lasts about three or more hours, depending on the selected mode and LED brightness. Mask 2 can comfortably fit children as young as 10, making it a cool, high-tech (albeit a bit expensive) costume accessory for Halloween.