VR 'Smell-O-Vision' May Enable Users To Detect Dozens Of Odors

Getty Images

Scientists are developing virtual reality technology so that users will soon be able to smell 3D augmented environments in addition to seeing them.

According to a report released on Tuesday, engineers from China's Beihang University and the City University of Hong Kong have developed a futuristic headset. It can emit 30 various fragrances to its wearer, including coffee, mojito, pancakes, and ethanol.

@npgpress6064/Youtube

By enhancing haptics, or the technology that may provide tangible experiences while playing, the initiative hopes to launch the VR experience for users.

“Recent human-machine interfaces highlight the importance of human sensation feedback, including vision, audio, and haptics, associating with wide applications in entertainment, medical treatment, and VR/AR,” the team wrote in the study.

“Olfaction plays a significant role in human perceptual experiences, which is equally important to visual and auditory feedback.”

Reuters

Small paraffin wax pads loaded with scents are heated by a connected electrode to release the scent in the team's ground-breaking technique.

The study refers to the wireless odor generators as "OGs," and they can be positioned very next to the user's nose.

Another concept put out by the group is meant to be worn over the face like a mask.

The new design intends to replace the "clumsy" mechanics of current olfaction-generating technology, according to the report, which relies on "bulky bottles of liquid perfumes," wiring, and uninteresting smell-generation functions.

The study suggests that the OGs might be utilized for purposes other than augmented VR gaming, including enhancing the learning environment in online classrooms.

The engineers also suggested that amnesic patients could utilize the device to aid in memory recovery.

Additionally, the team said, “Some odors generated from the olfactory interface system could be used for smoothing users’ emotions.”

“As odors could arouse human emotion by leading to the recall of emotional memories, the olfactory interface could be adopted for smoothing users’ depressed mood from the stress.

The report claims that the engineers want to reduce the overall size of the OGs to increase the scent's duration and reduce the amount of time customers must wait when switching between scents.

Already, the researchers have begun to further reduce the size of the objects. They currently have a system that is two to three times smaller than it will eventually be, with a goal of making it five to ten times smaller.