Digital scent technology#2010s

Today's modern advancements in biotechnology and nanotechnology are enabling digital scent technology to assist several industry sectors, including the medical technology, nanotechnology sectors,{{Cite web |title=Perfumer & Flavorist - June 2021 - page43 |url=https://perfumerflavorist.texterity.com/perfumerflavorist/june_2021?pg=43 |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=perfumerflavorist.texterity.com |language=en}} as well the entertainment and fashion industry sectors, as perfumers are utilizing this technology on neurological, emotional and psychological levels.{{Cite web |last=US |first=FashionNetwork com |title=Yves Saint Laurent Beauté to introduce multi-sensor headsets in stores for fragrance personalization |url=https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/Yves-saint-laurent-beaute-to-introduce-multi-sensor-headsets-in-stores-for-fragrance-personalization,1393020.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=en-US}}

Digital scent technology and scentography devices were exhibited during Milan Fashion Week in April 2013.{{Cite web |last=Huggins |first=Rachel |title=On the scent: Device bottles fragrance memories |url=https://www.lsnglobal.com/news/article/7471/on-the-scent-device-bottles-fragrance-memories |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=On the scent: Device bottles fragrance memories {{!}} LS:N Global |language=en}} And the Fashion Institute of Technology also operates in this digital scent technology space.{{Cite web |title=Degree Details |url=https://www.fitnyc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/business-and-technology/cfm/degree-details/index.php |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=www.fitnyc.edu}}

File:Digital scent devices.jpg technology.]]

In the late 1950s, Hans Laube invented the Smell-O-Vision, a system which released scents during a film so that the viewer could "smell" what was happening in the film. The Smell-O-Vision faced competition with AromaRama, a similar system invented by Charles Weiss that emitted scents through the air-conditioning system of a theater.{{cite news|title=Movie Review: Behind the Great Wall (1959) - Smells of China; 'Behind Great Wall' Uses AromaRama|author= Bosley crowther|date= December 10, 1959|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E03EEDA103CE63BBC4852DFB4678382649EDE|access-date=23 September 2012|journal=The New York Times}} Variety dubbed the competition "the battle of the smellies".{{cite book|author=Gilbert, Avery|year=2008|title=Hollywood Psychophysics" What the Nose Knows|publisher=Crown Publishers|page=[https://archive.org/details/whatnoseknowssci00gilb/page/159 159]|isbn=978-1-4000-8234-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/whatnoseknowssci00gilb/page/159}}

Smell-O-Vision did not work as intended. According to a Variety review of the mystery comedy film Scent of Mystery (1960), which featured the one and only use of Smell-O-Vision, aromas were released with a distracting hissing noise and audience members in the balcony complained that the scents reached them several seconds after the action was shown on the screen. In other parts of the theater, the odors were too faint, causing audience members to sniff loudly in an attempt to catch the scent. These technical problems were mostly corrected after the first few showings, but the poor word of mouth, in conjunction with generally negative reviews of the film itself, led to the decline of Smell-O-Vision.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

Since 1982,{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/299352a0 |title=Analysis of discrimination mechanisms in the mammalian olfactory system using a model nose |year=1982 |last1=Persaud |first1=Krishna |last2=Dodd |first2=George |journal=Nature |volume=299 |issue=5881 |pages=352–5 |pmid=7110356|bibcode=1982Natur.299..352P |s2cid=4350740 }} research has been conducted to develop technologies, commonly referred to as electronic noses, that could detect and recognize odors and flavors. Application areas include food, medicine and the environment.

File:Scents.jpg venues epitomize software and hardware synchronized digital scent technologies.]]

In 1999, DigiScents developed a computer peripheral device called iSmell, which was designed to emit a smell when a user visited a web site or opened an email. The device contained a cartridge with 128 "primary odors", which could be mixed to replicate natural and man-made odors. DigiScents had indexed thousands of common odors, which could be coded, digitized, and embedded into web pages or email.{{cite magazine | last = Martin | first = James A | title = Sniff That Web Site | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13263-page,1/article.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070115214649/http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13263-page,1/article.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2007-01-15 | magazine = PC World | date = 1999-10-13 | access-date = 2007-07-06 }} After $20 million in investment, DigiScents was shut down in 2001 when it was unable to obtain the additional funding it required.{{cite news| title = Digiscents runs out of cents | url = http://www.internetretailer.com/2001/05/31/digiscents-runs-out-of-cents | publisher = internetretailer.com | date = 31 May 2001}}

In 2000, AromaJet developed a scent-generating device prototype called Pinoke.{{cite web|title=Aroma Jet|url=http://www.microfab.com/vapor-generation/aromajet|website=www.microfab.com|access-date=10 December 2016}} No new announcements have been made since December 2000.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

In 2003, TriSenx (founded in 1999) launched a scent-generating device called Scent Dome, which by 2004 was tested by the UK internet service provider Telewest. This device was about the size of a teapot and could generate up to 60 different smells by releasing particles from one or more of 20 liquid-filled odor capsules. Computers fitted with a Scent Dome unit used software to recognize smell identifying codes embedded in an email or web page.{{cite magazine| title = Smelly device would liven up web browsing | url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4705-smelly-device-would-liven-up-web-browsing.html | magazine = New Scientist | date = 2004-02-20}}

In 2004, Tsuji Wellness and France Telecom developed a scent-generating device called Kaori Web, which comes with 6 different cartridges for different smells. The Japanese firm, K-Opticom, had placed special units of this device in their internet cafes and other venues until the end of the experiment on March 20, 2005.{{cite news |publisher=esato.com |url=http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=203 |title=These images STINK. Really. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723151245/http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id%3D203 |archive-date=2011-07-23 }} Also in 2004, the Indian inventor Sandeep Gupta founded SAV Products, LLC and claimed to show a scent-generating device prototype at CES 2005.{{cite news| title = Gaming Smells - It's a Fact | url = http://www.megagames.com/news/gaming-smells-its-fact | publisher = MegaGames | date = 2004-12-30}}

In 2005, researchers from the University of Huelva developed XML Smell, a protocol of XML that can transmit smells. The researchers also developed a scent-generating device and worked on miniaturising its size.{{cite news| title = XML Smell language developed by university | url = http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1021419/xml-smell-language-developed-university | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110922114419/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1021419/xml-smell-language-developed-university | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 22, 2011 | journal= The Inquirer | date = 2005-01-23}} Also in 2005, Thanko launched P@D Aroma Generator, a USB device that comes with 3 different cartridges for different smells.{{cite web|url=http://www.i4u.com/1766/thanko-usb-pd-aroma-generator |title=Thanko USB P@D Aroma Generator|date=7 February 2022 }}

In 2005, Japanese researchers announced that they are working on a 3D television with touch and smell that would be commercially available on the market by the year 2020.{{cite web|publisher=betanews.com|url=http://www.betanews.com/article/3D-TV-with-Touch-Smell-by-2020/1124471972 |title=3D TV with Touch, Smell by 2020?|date=19 August 2005 }}

During ThinkNext 2010, the Israeli company Scentcom featured a demo of its scent-generating device.{{cite web|url=http://www.geektime.co.il/thinknext-2010-scentcom/|title=ThinkNext 2010 – Scentcom|date=16 April 2010|website=www.geektime.co.il}}

In June 2011, a press release from the University of California, San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering{{cite web|last=Hockmuth|first=Catherine|title=Coming to TV Screens of the Future: a Sense of Smell|url=http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_releases/release.sfe?id=1082|work=UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering|publisher=UC San Diego|access-date=2 April 2013}} announced a paper published in Angewandte Chemie{{cite journal|last=Kim|first=Hyunsu|title=An X–Y Addressable Matrix Odor-Releasing System Using an On–Off Switchable Device|journal=Angewandte Chemie|date=14 June 2011|volume=50|issue=30|pages=6771–6775|doi=10.1002/anie.201102759|pmid=21674743|display-authors=etal}} describing an optimization and miniaturization of a component that can select and release scents from 10,000 odors, that is intended to be part of a Digital scent solution for TVs and phones.

In October 2012, Aromajoin, a Japanese company, released a small-sized product named Aroma Shooter which contains 6 different solid-type scents.{{cite news|title=Smell-o-Vision for the Digital Age: Japan Develops USB "Micro Aroma Shooter"|date=November 13, 2012|work=Soranews24|author=Karen Bremer Masuda|url=https://soranews24.com/2012/11/13/smell-o-vision-for-the-digital-age-japan-develops-usb-micro-aroma-shooter/}}

In March 2013, a group of Japanese researchers unveiled a prototype invention they dubbed a "smelling screen". The device combines a digital display with four small fans that direct an emitted odor to a specific spot on the screen. The fans operate at a very low speed, making it difficult for the user to perceive airflow; instead they perceive the smell as coming directly out of the screen and object displayed at that location.{{cite news|title=Japanese scientists create 'Smell-O-Vision' screen|date=April 2, 2013|work=CNET|author=Amanda Kooser|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57577555-1/japanese-scientists-create-smell-o-vision-screen/|access-date=April 3, 2013}}

In July 2013, Raul Porcar (Spain), engineer and inventor developed and patented Olorama Technology, a wireless system with the aim to incorporate scents into movies, virtual reality, and all kind of audiovisual experiences.:{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalavmagazine.com/en/2017/07/03/olorama-technology-incorpora-el-olor-a-las-experiencias-audiovisuales-y-de-realidad-virtual/ |first= Raul |last=Porcar |date=July 3, 2013|title=Olorama incorporate scents into audiovisual experiences|work=DigitalAV Magazine}}

In December 2013 Amos Porat inventor and CTO Of scent2you Israel Company has built several prototypes that can control scents.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/scent2you-hopes-to-bring-smell-o-vision-to-your-tablet/ |first= David |last=Shamah |date=December 20, 2013|title=Scent2You hopes to bring 'Smell-O-Vision' to your tablet|work=Times of Israel}}

At GDC 2015, FeelReal unveiled its odor generator VR peripheral{{cite web|url=https://vrworld.com/2015/03/11/feelreal-brings-sense-of-smell-to-virtual-reality/|title=FeelReal Brings Sense of Smell To Virtual Reality|first=Derek|last=Strickl|date=11 March 2015|website=/vrworld.com}} and in 2019 their Kickstarter campaign was founded.

In 2016 Surina Hariri, Nur Ain Mustafa, Kasun Karunanayaka and Adrian David Cheok from Imagineering Institute, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia experimented with Electrical stimulation of olfactory receptors.{{cite book|chapter-url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=3001959.3001964|first=Surina|last=Hariri|date=16 November 2016|via=dl.acm.org/|doi=10.1145/3001959.3001964|title=Proceedings of the 2016 workshop on Multimodal Virtual and Augmented Reality - MVAR '16|pages=4:1–4:4|isbn=9781450345590|chapter=Electrical stimulation of olfactory receptors for digitizing smell|s2cid=8690392 }}

At CEATEC 2016, Aromajoin unveiled the first wearable scent device, Aroma Shooter Mini, which can be connected and controlled from PCs and smartphones. Besides, the company also introduced a demo scent-enabled chatting app named AromaMessage in the event.{{cite news|title=Aromajoin Unveils The New Aromajoin Mini & Smartphone App|date=October 5, 2016|author=Tyler Lee|url=https://www.ubergizmo.com/2016/10/aromajoin-mini-smartphone-app-unveiled/|access-date=October 30, 2018}}

{{Cite web | url=http://www.ceatec.com/2016/en/award/award02_04_02.html | title=CEATEC JAPAN 2016 ( Official Website ) | access-date=2018-10-30 | archive-date=2018-10-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170521/http://www.ceatec.com/2016/en/award/award02_04_02.html | url-status=dead }}

In 2018 Vaqso VR began sales of Vaqso VR Dev kit which is an accessory for devices of virtual reality using which users can feel specific smells depending on what occurs in VR space. Set was available to Vaqso VR developers.{{cite web | url=https://tadviser.com/index.php/Product:Vaqso_VR_(devices_for_smells) | title=The device for feeling of smells in virtual reality went on sale }}{{cite web | url=https://newatlas.com/vaqso-vr-smells/57344/ | title=Vaqso aims to bring the smell of zombies to VR | date=21 November 2018 }}

In 2020 OVR Technology introduced their Architecture of Scent Platform.  Which includes the ION Scent Device which attaches to an AR or VR Headset, a software suite including a plug-in for content developers to add scent triggers and geometries to virtual reality objects, and their in-house developed ION Scentware. The combination of this Hardware, Software, Scentware platform delivers precise scent molecules based on the user's interactions and can help deliver improved immersion and presence for virtual reality training and wellness applications.{{Cite web | url=https://arpost.co/2020/06/19/ovr-technology-virtual-reality-scents/ | title=AR Post: OVR Technology Creates First-of-Its-Kind Virtual Reality Experiences With Scents| date=19 June 2020}}{{Cite web | url=https://techtrends.tech/tech-trends/smelling-the-metaverse/ | title=Smelling the Metaverse |author=Alice |date=12 November 2021 |website=Tech Trends}}

In 2021, Dombeck and Radvansky at Northwestern University invented a system to control odors as a function of the user's movement in virtual reality,{{cite journal |last1=Dombeck |first1=DA |last2=Radvansky |first2=BA |title=Introduction of olfactory cues into a virtual reality system |journal=US Patent |date=2021 |volume=US11092979B2 |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190346865A1/en}} and demonstrated that this system can engage hippocampal place cells in darkness{{cite journal |last1=Radvansky |first1=BA |last2=Dombeck |first2=DA |title=An olfactory virtual reality system for mice. |journal=Nature Communications |date=2018 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=839 |doi=10.1038/s41467-018-03262-4 |pmid=29483530|pmc=5827522 |bibcode=2018NatCo...9..839R }} and when synchronized with visual cues.{{cite journal |last1=Radvansky |first1=BA |last2=Oh |first2=JY |last3=Climer |first3=JR |last4=Dombeck |first4=DA |title=Behavior determines the hippocampal spatial mapping of a multisensory environment. |journal=Cell Reports |date=2021 |volume=36 |issue=5 |pages=109444 |doi=10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109444 |pmid=34293330|pmc=8382043 }}

The 2023 film Postcard from Earth at Sphere features scents.{{Cite magazine |issn=0035-791X |language=en-US |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2023-10-07 |accessdate=2023-12-01 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/postcard-from-earth-the-sphere-las-vegas-darren-aronofsky-18k-film-1234848611/ |first=Mark |last=Gray |department=TV & Movies > TV & Movie Features |title='Postcard From Earth': Darren Aronofsky's 18K Film Rocks The Sphere}}

Current obstacles of mainstream adoption include the timing and distribution of scents, a fundamental understanding of human olfactory perception, the health dangers of synthetic scents, and other hurdles.

• Digital lollipop
• Machine olfaction
• Molecular communication

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20010613175242/http://www.digiscents.com/index.shtml DigiScents - A Revolution of the Senses] archived on the Internet Archive (June 1, 2001)

{{Emerging technologies|other=yes}}

Category:Olfaction

Category:Engineering disciplines

Category:Virtual reality