In 1925, the helmet “The Isolator” was invented to combat procrastination

The strange contraption was intended to eliminate all sound and visual distractions and force the user to concentrate.

Long before productivity apps, focus playlists and digital detox, inventors were looking for ways to overcome procrastination. In July 1925, the magazine presented readers with an extreme solution designed to almost completely eliminate distractions.

It was called “The Insulator” and was essentially a helmet made to block both noise and visual interruptions. The magazine argued that even writers who worked indoors ran the constant risk of having their thoughts interrupted by background sounds, which could “kill an idea on the spot“.The proposed solution was total sensory isolation, achieved by placing something similar to a large bucket over the user’s head.

According to the original article, the first version of the helmet was made of wood, covered internally and externally with cork and covered with felt. Three small glass panels allowed the user to see, while a deflector near the mouth allowed breathing, reducing sound. This initial model allegedly blocked about 75% of ambient noisealthough its creators recognized that solid wood limited its effectiveness.

To improve performance, later versions added an air gap inside the helmet, increasing noise reduction to around 90% to 95%. However, a new problem quickly arose. After about 15 minutes inside the helmet, users became drowsy, probably due to poor ventilation and increased carbon dioxide levels.

To get around this, inventors attached a small oxygen cylinder to the helmet. The magazine stated that this addition “increased breathing and considerably invigorated the user”.

The Isolator also aimed to eliminate visual distractions. Although it had windows for the eyes, these were painted black with only thin horizontal slits etched into the glass, forcing tunnel vision. This prevented the user from seeing anything beyond their immediate work, including moving objects or other people nearby.

Although the device was introduced seriously at the time, it never became popular. A century later, it remains a striking reminder of how far inventors were willing to go in the pursuit of focus, and how much safer modern productivity tools tend to be. Today’s experts suggest that music playlists remain a much better option.