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There are often times when many wish they could smell through a TV screen – whether watching Bake Off or playing an immersive virtual reality (VR) game.
Now you can, because scientists have created a futuristic headset that takes you into a world of simulated smells.
Pancakes, mojitos and even plants are among 30 different scents that can now be smelled through technology, thanks to engineers from China’s Beihang University and City University of Hong Kong.
The groundbreaking research could pave the way for an exciting array of new video games, 4D movies and even virtual learning environments, the authors believe.
Hospitals could also make use of VR, as scientists suggest it could be useful in helping amnesia patients recover lost memories.
A small virtual reality headset can simulate 30 smells, including pancakes, mojitos and plants
Authors wrote: ‘Recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technologies are accelerating the creation of a flawless 3D virtual world to provide a groundbreaking social platform for humans.
Equally important to traditional visual, auditory and tactile sensations, olfaction exerts both physiological and psychological influences on humans.
“Representative demonstrations in 4D movie viewing, scent message delivery, medical treatment, human emotion control, and VR/AR based online education prove the great potential of the soft olfactory interface in various practical applications including entertainment, education, human-machine interfaces and so on. .’
The new technology comes on the heels of numerous other VR projects that are bringing the concept of “Smell-O-Vision” into the 21st century.
Porn site CamSoda previously designed a headset similar to a gas mask that can pump a range of sexual odors into a user’s nostrils.
This included ‘private parts’, ‘body odour’, ‘panties’ and ‘aphrodisiacs’ for the pleasure of the user.
Meanwhile, researchers in Sweden have created a game controller that can also release aromas during virtual wine-themed experiences.
Yet the new technology claims to be different, with a lightweight feel that requires no cables or attachments.
The new VR also doesn’t require perfume to produce simulated scents, which has been a key feature of some headsets.
Researchers from both universities explored the possibility of two wireless odor-producing VR sets and tested them on 11 volunteers.
The first model can be placed under someone’s nose and can produce two different scents.
The other can produce nine different scents, but instead fits on the face like a mask.
Despite their differences, both contain small scent generators made from paraffin wax that can release specific scents in just 1.44 seconds when heated.
Pictured: Scientists have developed two models of the VR headset. The first smaller model could be placed on the skin under the nose and had the ability to produce two different scents (top right photo). The other model could produce nine different scents, but instead fit faces like a mask (see the nine different squares on the larger model)
The two wireless odor-producing VR sets were tested on a total of 11 volunteers. Pictured on the left is what the player sees on the VR headset, while the top right is the experimental setup
Hospitals could also take advantage of VR as scientists say it could be useful in helping amnesia patients recover lost memories
Authors suggest that these scents can be changed, having tested 30 different scent types, including pineapple, green tea, and rosemary.
Vague scents like “walking outside,” “happiness,” and “lunch” were also tested, but those with the lowest boiling point were most effective.
By mixing some perfume and wax to a temperature of 60°C, nine different scents were obtained that still work after three weeks of exposure to air.
Meanwhile, 30mg of ‘mojito’ – which also has a boiling point below 200°C (392°F) – can release fragrance continuously for 90 minutes.
Scientists explained: ‘It is concluded that our olfactory system could take in low volatile fragrance types as fragrance additive in wax to provide users with sense of smell.’
Developments in VR come after the enchanting concept of Smell-O-Vision created in 1960 for Hans Laube’s film ‘Scent of Mystery’.
The system was mounted on movie theater seats and emitted 30 scents at various times during the film, triggered by the film’s soundtrack.
Scents at the time included pipe tobacco, gunpowder, gasoline, flowers, wood shavings, and foods such as peaches, wine, and coffee.