“Space Balls” Inspired Helmet Blocks Outside Noise to Increase Focus and Productivity

The “Helmfon” is an oversized noise-canceling helmet that helps you ignore chatty co-workers and other distractions so you can focus on your work at the office.

Created by Ukrainian design company Hochu Rayu, the Helmfon is a giant isolation helmet that uses special sound absorption features to completely block out any outside noise, giving the wearer their own quiet personal space so they can better concentrate on their work. Made of a glass fiber shell, membrane cloth, and foamed polyethylene, the bizarre accessory not only blocks outside sound, but it also keeps the noise you make in, allowing you to answer calls, hold Skype conferences, watch or edit videos, privately.

Hochu Rayu came up with the idea for the Helmfon after being  asked to design a new phone booth for an IT company. The project made the team think about the way we communicate and ultimately begin work on a device that would “allow you to be in two worlds just sitting on your chair in the office, in a meeting, or everywhere you feel like just wearing your helmet.”

The Helmfon comes complete with a system board, microphone, speakers, accumulator, magnifier, and a special holder for your phone.

The only downside is that it makes you look like a character from Mel Brooks’ famous Star Wars parody, Space Balls, but Hochu Rayu also unveiled a variety of customization options, including Minions and Batman-inspired design, and even a Native American headgear.

The Helmfon is still in prototype stage, but the Ukrainian company is already working on a commercially viable design and plans to offer the design for sale. A release date has not yet been revealed.