the Isolator (1925)

thingiverse

Enter the Isolator helmet, a pioneering device conceived by Hugo Gernsback in 1925 and showcased in that year's July edition of Science and Invention magazine. This innovative contraption resembled a diving helmet equipped with an oxygen tank, but its intended use was far from underwater exploration - it was designed for office work. The primary function of the Isolator was to eliminate all background noise, creating a soundproof environment that allowed users to concentrate on a single task: reading a page. By restricting their field of vision and blocking out distractions, Gernsback hoped to enhance productivity, but his creation might have been slightly excessive in its approach.