Kortum P. (ed.) HCI Beyond the GUI. Design for Haptic, Speech, Olfactory, and Other Nontraditional Interfaces
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8.3.1 Historical Background
An early approach to incorporating smells with other kinds of sensory displays
can be found in Heilig’s Sensorama (Figure 8.2), developed around 1960 (Heilig,
1962, 1992). Users could enjoy multimodal movies incorporating breezes and
smells, although the displays were not interactive. There have also been some
entertainment attractions using scent; for example, McCarthy (1984) developed
a scent-emitting system called a “Smellitzer” (Figure 8.3) that could emit a selected
scent and produce a sequence of various smells.
8.3.2 Systems for Scent Generation and Blending
An olfactometer is a reliable instrument used in experiments on human olfaction.
Experimenters construct olfactometer systems very carefully to ensure that the
FIGURE
8.2
Sensorama simulator.
The Sensorama was developed by Morton Heilig around 1960. (Photo from
http://
www.telepresence.org/
.)
8 Olfactory Interfaces
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experiment is both safe and accurate. Air flow is divided into several channels, each
of which consists of a pair of tubes equipped with solenoid valves. A pair of solenoid
valves is controlled to open exclusively so that the total air flow of the channel is
kept constant. One of the tubes in each channel is connected to an odor vessel to
produce scented air. The intensity of each odor is controlled by the timing ratio
according to which the valve connected to the odorant vessel is opened. All valves
in the system are controlled simultaneously by a host computer to produce blended
smells that consist of the desired density of selected odorant(s). Figure 8.4 shows an
example of an olfactometer developed by Lorig et al. (1999).
Although carefully designed and implemented olfactometers have successfully
performed strict control of smell type, concentration (intensity), and temporal profile,
these systems may be cumbersome for ordinary users. Recently, several trials have
been made to construct easy-to-use, computer-controlled odor-emitting systems.
In 1999, DigiScents announced plans to release a scent diffuser, called iSmell,
that can emit multiple smells. Shaped like a shark fin, the diffuser functioned as a
FIGURE
8.3
Smellitzer.
This scent-emitting system was developed by McCarthy (1984).
Source:
From
McCarthy (1984); U.S. Patent 4,603,030.
8.3 Current Implementations of the Interface
273
peripheral device for personal computers (Figure 8.5). As of this writing, iSmell is
still not commercially available.
Kaye (2001, 2004) has developed various systems to emit scents in the context
of ambient media (Figure 8.6). Air brushes are used in the system named “inStink”
to emit 12 kinds of smells. Sprays driven by solenoids are used in the Dollars &
Scents, Scent Reminder, and Honey, I’m Home systems, which emit two smells,
five smells, and a single smell, respectively.
Scent Dome, developed by TriSenx (2007), is a computer-controlled scent dif-
fuser that can blend 20 different scents. TriSenx also provides exchangeable car-
tridges, so that users can customize the aromas (Figure 8.7).
France Telecom developed multichannel scent diffusers that consist of ves-
sels containing aromatic gels and a fan controlled via a USB communication line.
Teflon odorant
vessels/valves
Teflon solenoid
valves
NO - Normally open
NC - Normally closed
Pump
Filters
Flow-meters
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
“Exhaust”
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NO
Ia
Ib
IIa
IIb
IIIa
IIIb
I
II
III
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Control flow
Constant flow
Housing
2.0 L/min
1.0 L/min
FIGURE
8.4
Olfactometer.
A schematic diagram of an olfactometer.
Source:
From Lorig et al. (1999).
8 Olfactory Interfaces
274
FIGURE
8.5
iSmell scent diffuser.
Developed by DigiScents, iSmell emits multiple smells and functions as a PC
peripheral. (Courtesy of DigiScents.)
(a) (b)
FIGURE
8.6
Computer-controlled scent emitters.
(a) inStink. (b) Dollars & Scents.
Source:
From Kaye (2001).
8.3 Current Implementations of the Interface
275
The system configuration is simple and straightforward, and this system was
incorporated with practical audiovisual programs and demonstrated at various sites.
In a typical program, called Kaori-Web (“Kaori” is a Japanese word meaning aroma),
the cooking process is displayed by images, sounds, and smells of the food being
cooked. These multimodal stimuli are synchronously controlled by a PC (Figure 8.8).
Nakamoto et al. (2007) developed a real-time odor-blending system as a part
of an odor-recording system (Figure 8.9). These authors used solenoid valves that
could open and close very rapidly, and succeeded in controlling the density of
multiple odors in real time. Although the valves only had a digital function (open
and close), they introduced the concept of delta–sigma modulation, which has
been used in digital-to-analog conversions for audio players, to their real-time
blender (Yamanaka et al., 2002). The high-speed switching of the valves made it
possible to quantitatively control odor density by compact digital devices and com-
puter interfaces, providing integration of up to 32-channel blenders in a compact
enclosure (Nakamoto et al., 2007).
8.3.3 Systems for Spatiotemporal Control of Scents
Although spatiotemporally controllable olfactory interfaces have only recently
been developed, there are a variety of potential applications.
Cater (1992, 1994) constructed a firefighting simulator that emits fire-related
odors, and embedded all necessary parts in the set of equipment used by firefigh-
ters (Figure 8.10).
FIGURE
8.7
Scent Dome.
Developed by TriSenx, this scent diffuser blends 20 different scents. (Image
courtesy TriSenx Holdings, Inc, from
http://www.trisenx.com/
.)
8 Olfactory Interfaces
276
FIGURE
8.8
Kaori-Web (Scent-Web).
Developed by the Tsuji Wellness Corporation and France Telecom R & D, this
system is a multimodal program with audio, images, and scents. (Courtesy of
Exhalia Japan.)
(a) (b)
FIGURE
8.9
Real-time odor blender.
The blender uses high-speed switching in solenoid valves. (a) Prototype, part of
the odor recorder system. (b) Commercial version of the real-time odor blender.
(Photo (a) courtesy of Nakamoto Lab, Tokyo Institute of Technology.)
8.3 Current Implementations of the Interface
277
Tanikawa and colleagues (Yamada et al., 2006) have developed a wearable
olfactory display system. By focusing on the spatial distribution of virtual olfactory
space, and by making the entire system (including scent generators) compact and
wearable, their system allows users to move around the environment and actively
explore virtual olfactory space. This olfactory display system has four odor ves-
sels, and a micropump (driven by a DC motor) is used to produce air flow for each
vessel (Figure 8.11).
Wearable olfactory displays under development are direct-injection–type dis-
plays. These use piezoelectric actuators (inkjet head) to produce small drops of
essential oil that are directly injected into the user’s nostril (Yamada et al.,
2006). Although this research is ongoing, the goal is to ultimately create a compact
olfactory display that will make a user feel unencumbered and able to move freely
around the environment. If this system is developed, olfactory-augmented reality
will be realized and various types of information can then be communicated by
odor.
Mochizuki et al. (2004) developed an arm-mounted olfactory display system,
focusing on the human action of holding objects in the hand, bringing them close to
the nose, and then sniffing. They configured the system so that the odor vessels of
the olfactometer are mounted on the arm and the odor-emitting end of the tube is
positioned on the user’s palm (Figure 8.12). This arrangement enabled quick switch-
ing among different smells so that an interactive game interface using smell was
achieved.
At the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies
(ICT), Morie and coworkers (2003) designed and implemented a necklace-shaped
unit equipped with four small wireless-controlled scent emitters. This system is
called the Scent Collar (Figure 8.13, page 281). By emitting scents close to the
OdorPak
OdorPak controller
Valve manifold panel
Air hose
Air pressure tank
Aspriation air blower
FIGURE
8.10
Firefighting simulator.
The D.I.V.E. firefighter training system by Cater.
Source:
From Kaye (2001).
8 Olfactory Interfaces
278
nose, the collar enables location-specific olfactory stimuli without forcing users to
wear encumbering tubes or devices near the face.
MicroScent developed a scent generator that can deliver a small amount of
scent locally by making use of the vortex ring launched from the aperture of an
enclosed space (Figure 8.14). This principle (also known as an “air cannon”) is
the basis of a popular scientific demonstration for children. In this system, multi-
ple diffusers are embedded in the enclosure and multiple smells can be emitted.
With this configuration, the scented air in the enclosed space has to be cleaned
by a suction filter before each scent is emitted.
Yanagida et al. (2004) proposed a method of scent delivery that also uses the
principle of the vortex ring. Their system has a tracking function that is aimed at
the user’s nose and a scent-switching mechanism that can provide a different smell
for each launch of the vortex ring (Figure 8.15, page 282). The user’s nose is tracked
by detecting its position through image processing, and the two-degrees-of-freedom
platform carrying the body of the air cannon is maneuvered to direct the air cannon
at the nose. The scent-switching mechanism is implemented by placing a small
FIGURE
8.11
Wearable olfactory display.
Developed by Tanikawa and colleagues (Yamada et al., 2006) this system allows
users to move around the environment and explore virtual olfactory space.
(Courtesy of Hirose Tanikawa Lab, Graduate School of Information Science and
Technology.)
8.3 Current Implementations of the Interface
279
cylinder chamber in front of the aperture of the air cannon. The scented air is then
injected into this chamber instead of into the air cannon body so that the scented air
is completely pushed out of the chamber for each shot and no scented air remains
in the air cannon body. This system was named the Scent Projector.
During the development of scent projectors, several issues emerged. For
instance, the feeling of suddenly being wind-blasted impairs the natural olfactory
experience of the user. To solve this problem, a method has been proposed to use
two air cannons and let the vortex rings collide with each other so that they
collapse in front of the user and the high-speed air flow composing the vortex
rings is reduced (Figure 8.16, page 282).
(c)
(a)
(b)
FIGURE
8.12
Arm-mounted type of olfactory display for active sniffing.
This display was developed by Mochizuki and colleagues (2004). (Courtesy of Nara
Institute of Science and Technology, Japan.)
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30
24
22
54
FIGURE
8.14
MicroScent’s scent generator.
This device delivers scent locally. (Courtesy of MicroScent; U.S. Patent
6,357,726.)
FIGURE
8.13
Scent Collar.
Developed by Morie and colleagues (2003) at the Institute for Creative
Technologies, this device permits location-specific stimuli without clumsy
tubes or devices near the face.
8.3 Current Implementations of the Interface
281