The Neck Fans Are Coming

After successive heat waves across the country this summer, people finally found an unexpected source of relief: the neck fan. Consumer-product geniuses made the latest model look like Beats headphones, and suddenly they were on many hot, hot necks. Why did the neck fan take off? Does it actually cool you down or just make you feel cooler?
We talk with Saahil Desai, who notices new and interesting things at the intersection of technology and consumer culture. Desai brings his own beloved neck fan (www.theatlanti...) to the studio and answers the question: Of all wearable technology, why did this one manage to break through social norms? And what does this mean for the future of an industry that has promised a lot of innovation but struggled to introduce genuinely new wearables into people’s daily lives?
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[@utkphilobio]

You say there's no precedent for neck fans, but hand-held fans would seem to be that. The idea that people are just now learning how to fan themselves is a bit rich.

[@nonya.bizness]

wearable vs handheld

[@robertreidy6700]

I have a neck fan that IS a legit "air conditioner" cooling device! It uses a Ku Peltier Radiator. I can confirm IT WORKS! It was kinda pricey, but I'm really happy with it!!

[@VS257]

This has been a thing in Japan for years....yall are just late af

[@jhaduvala]

Won't help you when it hits 60ºC and rising.

[@cidercik]

Have had one for 4 years already. Ever been on the Tube? My max time is 15mins, it's hot all the time, all year long.

[@wyslink9354]

I cant with this dudes voice man im sorry

[@zar187]

Why wasn't this released in peak summer, not in sept?

[@aluisious]

I remember when Atlantic articles were interesting and not dumbass clickbait.

[@snowballeffect7812]

I don't.

[@SooooT1red]

Shall we return to "employing" people to fan us with palm branches? A la British Colonialism? These neck fans have been in theme parks for 20+ years. Before that they had those handheld water spritzing fans, in the 90s. Maybe ask if we NEED this.

[@swimswithwhales]

I have a neck fan and love it!

[@wintercame]

They're great. Three speeds and I've never had to use more than the lowest speed to feel cool. Not junk at all at the right price point (around $30.)

[@OminousShadow]

The neck fans are WHAT?!?!?

[@VS257]

You know this is a thing in Japan right for a while now right ? the western world is always late....

[@llzaqwsx]

Slow news cycles goes brrrrrrrr

[@aluisious]

There’s a ton of news but nothing the Atlantic wants to talk about.

[@Arsenik17]

Literally lol

[@wyslink9354]

the graphene mask heads are coming

[@HebaruSan]

Are they _just_ fans, or do they have a small heat pump element to cool the air? I had the impression it was the latter, which would make them a slight innovation over previous solutions.

[@wordzmyth]

It's loud! But it's also your own personal white noise machine to separate you from the world

[@aluisious]

I like when non technical people try to talk about technical stuff. You cannot wear a “small heat pump.” What are you going to power it with, good vibes?

[@justintime343]

I'm not a fan.

[@TennesseeJed]

🥵

[@ricardodsavant2965]

nay...👎🏾

[@thehellezell]

ugh anne applebaum