A crowd funding campaign is making noise online because its creators claim that the new invention enables humans to breathe underwater. Triton could be a great equipment, especially for those who are water sports enthusiasts, but many experts question if it really works.
Developed by Jeabyun Yeon, Triton is a breathing device that uses "artificial gills" technology, which allows users to freely breathe underwater without the use of bulky and heavy scuba diving equipment.
How To Use And Specifications
Triton can be used by simply biting the mouthpiece and just continue breathing normally while underwater.
The device is 11.5 x 4.5 inches and can be used for as deep as 15 feet. Triton is powered by a modified lithium-ion battery that can last for a maximum of 45 minutes of use.
According to its Indiegogo page, Triton's artificial gills are made from Microporous Hollow Fiber, which keeps the water molecules out and lets oxygen in. With the help of a micro compressor, it extracts enough oxygen to make breathing underwater possible and comfortable.
Does It Really Work
"The device shown cannot work as described (and even if it did, it would be extremely dangerous), there is simply too little dissolved gas in water to allow the principle to work in any practical way," says a post on Metabunk, a site where various scientific topics are discussed.
According to some experts, there is no real evidence that the device actually works. The videos presented by Triton do not even show a diver using it for one minute.
"In concept, it sounds very good and it's very exciting, but I would not encourage anyone pulling out a wallet," says Neal Pollock of Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology at Duke University Medical Center.
Oppositions Raised Over The Device
According to Pollock, for the artificial breathing device to work, it should accomplish three major challenges.
First, the device must give enough oxygen needed by the lungs of someone who is submerged in water.
Triton is too small to provide the sufficient amount of oxygen, says Alistair Dove of Deep Sea News. He said that without a pump, the device does not have enough suction power to supply the user enough gas.
The next challenge is that it should have a suitable gas container. According to Triton, they have a modified micro compressor to store gas, but in reality compressed oxygen need high energy in order to be stored and withstand much pressure underwater.
Lastly, it should be determined whether the device could deliver the physiological needs of a diver.
"You have to deliver enough for physiological needs, but not so much that you would create a toxic environment," Pollock said.
The Indiegogo campaign has already raised a total of $600,000, of which the $100,000 was attained in just 24 hours.
