I've found after some rifling through random materials at hobby lobby, co-op, and home depot, that mosquito netting is optimal for this preventative device. It is very fine, which is necessary to keep the virus out of a person's respiratory system, but most importantly it is very soft and easy to maneuver, which is obviously the most important aspect of this mask. I want whoever that is to wear this mask to notice two things: one, that THEY don't notice that they're wearing it and two, that NOBODY else notices that they're wearing it. Invisible prevention.

For my device i've chosen the most obvious and most vulnerable route of infiltration, that being the face. Namely, the nostrils and mouth. H1N1, like any other type of influenza, is mostly contracted via the respiratory system. When

someone coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets spray everywhere,often infecting people it comes into contact with.

I show these two images because my design will be a compromise between the two. Since it is to be worn at a formal ball, it has to be as compact and discrete as possible. No filtration system will be necessary, simply something to shield infected particles away from the user.

My design will be more in-depth than a simple carpenter's mask, but i also want to avoid a design as garish and loud as a Venetian Carnivale mask. But the desire to be aesthetically pleasing will remain there.

Just to get an idea of the immense impact that the A/H1N1 virus has had on the planet, i post this map. The black countries indicate nations that have confirmed fatal cases, red being non-fatal. What's keeping central Africa and the -stan countries clean, i dont know. Easily one of the most widespread diseases in modern history.