This Bizarre Anti-Distraction Device Was Cutting-Edge Technology Back In 1925

It was invented by Hugo Gernsback, a legend in the Sci-Fi genre.

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• October 17, 2021

With TV, social networks, and Netflix all enticing us to give them the attention they (don’t) deserve, how can we concentrate on our work. And it is even more challenging these days when so many of us have to work from home.

Balancing work and family life is never easy, but when they are concentrated in the same space, it becomes almost impossible. And offices are not much better with so many people around you, passing by and sharing office rumors.

You suddenly catch yourself listening to office chitchat about Sally’s divorce or John’s squash injury. Not much attention is left for tons of merchandise you have to sell to your buyer (who is, in fact, on hold while you are thinking about an appropriate waiting period before you hit on Sally).

All this makes you want to just shut out the world and concentrate on your work. But, surprisingly, this is not a modern problem. Even at the beginning of the previous century, people were struggling with the same problems we are experiencing today.

That’s how the “Isolator” was invented. This bizarre-looking contraption offered complete separation from the noises and distractions of the world around you. Take a look:

An inventor by the name of Hugo Gernsback created the contraption in 1925. "The Isolator” was dedicated to tackling the outside distractions.

The Isolator was made from wool, cork, wood, and felts.

Hugo Gernsback was a Luxembourgish–American inventor, writer, editor, and magazine publisher. He is best known for publications, including the first science fiction magazine.

His contribution as a publisher was so significant that he is sometimes called he is sometimes referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction," along with H. G. Wells and Jules Verne.

The annual awards presented at the World Science Fiction Convention are named the "Hugos" in his honor.

The user had an oxygen supply for breathing.

The eye holes were made small intentionally to help the user focus on the area in front of him and prevent peripheral vision distractions.

This is Hugo Gernsback, the inventor

The Isolator first appeared in a science fiction magazine. Although the idea got a lot of attention, it wasn’t well accepted by the broad public, probably due to the claustrophobic feeling that it induced.

But the concept of secluding ourselves from the outer world never stopped being popular. That’s why companies are devising new ways to do that. One of them is this interesting Helmfon Privacy Helmet that comes from a Ukrainian company Hochu-Rayu.

The Isolator Helmet with speakers, microphone, and display creates a private environment by blocking out lights and sounds of a busy office. Although it is much modern than the original Isolator, it is still kind of bizarre-looking.

This is a modern version, "Privacy Helmet" by Helmfon

We all sometimes need to shut the outside world off. But even the modern devices seem a bit awkward. Until some more practical solution is invented, we have to rely on our own abilities to ignore distractions. And judging by the pace at which companies are developing new distractions, we better hope the solution for eliminating them comes quickly.

Damjan