Researchers at the Imagineering
Institute in Malaysia have found a new method that could help a person smell an
occasion, and they plan to use it in AR and VR based applications. Imagine
where you could get a sense of smell through mixed reality experiences. The
researchers are calling this Digital Smell. Researchers have managed to do this
by bringing in thin electrodes in contact with the inner lining of the human
nose. Researchers are working on creating a smaller form factor of this
technology so that it can be easily carried and used. The first version of the
project involved chemical cartridges that mix and release chemicals to produce
odors. But this was not what the team wanted moving forwards. They wanted to
create a system that can produce scent through electricity alone. To create an
all-electric system, they experimented with exciting the human neurons. The
test requires a wire to be inserted into their nose.
When the exposed silver tip
touches the olfactory epithelium, which is located approximately 3 inches into
the nasal cavity, the researchers will send an electric charge into them. The
researchers varied both amperage and frequency of the current to see the smell
sensations that they would create. For certain electric combinations, the
perceived smells were off fruity or chemical in nature. Now the next part is to
determine the exact parameters to create certain odors. Also, the team wants to
redesign the device so that it is more comfortable for the users. In their
testing, many participants left because they felt the procedure to be very uncomfortable.
Perfecting this tech has immense possibilities, helping people with smell
disorders being one of them. By including direct brain simulators in VR
headsets, even content creators can help users smell things based on what they
see.
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