Practical Applications of Smell Recordings

ozmanjusri writes to mention a Tokyo Institute of Technology project to record scents for later playback. The New Scientist article suggests this technology could be used in commercials and medical applications. From the article: "Simply point the gadget at a freshly baked cookie, for example, and it will analyse its odour and reproduce it for you using a host of non-toxic chemicals. The device could be used to improve online shopping by allowing you to sniff foods or fragrances before you buy, to add an extra dimension to virtual reality environments and even to assist military doctors treating soldiers remotely by recreating bile, blood or urine odours that might help a diagnosis."

Comments

DigiScents??

[Nexzus]

A Company named DigiScents tried this during the boom. Shockingly enough, the company folded. From Wired, Nov. 99/a.

Re:What about toxic smells?

[ozmanjusri]

Would the smell of rotting meat be more effective than a loud siren as a burglar alarm?

It is more effective in certain applications. Underground mines use Ethyl Mercaptan (stench gas) to warn workers to evacuate the mine http://www.zacon.ca/stench-gas.asp. If you've ever experienced it, you'll know there's a strong incentive to get the hell out of there.