A simple, portable, computer-controlled odour generator

In this paper, we report on the on-going development of a simple computer controlled odour generator. The unit comprises of eight “aroma dispensers” that can be loaded with liquid samples (in our case fragrances such as tea-tree oil). These aroma dispensers use a combination of the capillary effect and thermal heating to release aroma to the user. The instrument also includes a controlled fan and a gas sensor to monitor the release of the aroma. Interaction with the aroma generator is through a custom interface that releases aromas in line with either direct control or a preprogrammed sequence. We believe this unit can be used in combination with virtual environments to enhance such experiences

Development of a portable, multichannel olfactory display transducer

In this paper we report on the development of a simple, yet innovative multi-channel olfactory display. Unlike other sensory stimuli (specifically sight and sound), digital olfactory technology has yet to have wide-spread commercial success. Our proposed system will release up to 8 different liquid phase aromas (essential oils) using a thermal mechanism. The unit contains a speed controlled fan, temperature control of the heating element and a gas sensor to provide feedback to inform the release rate. It can be connected (via Bluetooth LE) to a tablet/computer to control the timing and intensity of the aroma. External measurements show that aromas can be detected within a few seconds of release and produce a broad range of intensities from low ppm to 10’s of ppm

Master of Science

thesisThis thesis discusses the development of an olfactory display for the University of Utah TreadPort Virtual Environment (UUTVE). The goal of the UUTVE is to create a virtual environment that is as life like as possible by communicating to the user as many of the sensations felt in moving around in real the world as possible, while staying within the confines of the virtual environment's workspace. The UUTVE has a visual display, auditory display, a locomotion interface and wind display. With the wind display, it is possible to create an effective olfactory display that does not have some of the limitations associated with many of the current olfactory displays. The inclusion of olfactory information in virtual environments is becoming increasingly common as the effects of including an olfactory display show an increase in user presence. The development of the olfactory display for the UUTVE includes the following components: the physical apparatus for injecting scent particles into the air stream, the development of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model with which to control the concentration of scent being sensed by the user, and user studies to verify the model and show as proof of concept that the wind tunnel can be used to create an olfactory display. The physical apparatus of the display consists of air atomizing nozzles, solenoids for controlling when the scents are released, containers for holding the scents and a pressurized air tank used to provide the required air to make the nozzles work. CFD is used model the wind flow through the TPAWT. The model of the wind flow is used to simulate how particles advect in the wind tunnel. These particle dispersion simulations are then used to create a piecewise model that is able to predict the scent's concentration behavior as the odor flows through the wind tunnel. The user studies show that the scent delivery system is able to display an odor to a person standing in the TPAWT. The studies also provided a way to measure the time it takes for a person to recognize an odor after it has been released into the air stream, and also the time it takes for a user to recognize that the odor is no longer present

Materializing interaction

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, February 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. "September 2012."Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-148).At the boundary between people, objects and spaces, we encounter a broad range of surfaces. Their properties perform functional roles such as permeability, comfort or illumination, while conveying information such as an object's affordances, composition, or history of use. However, today surfaces are static and can neither adapt to our changing needs, nor communicate dynamic information and sense user input. As technology advances and we progress towards a world imbued with programmable materials, how will designers create physical surfaces that are adaptive and can take full advantage of our sensory apparatus? This dissertation looks at this question through the lens of a three-tier methodology consisting of the development of programmable composites; their application in design and architecture; and contextualization through a broader material and surface taxonomy. The focus is placed primarily on how materials and their aggregate surface properties can be used to engage our senses. A series of design probes and four final implementations are presented, each addressing specific programmable material and surface properties. Surflex, Sprout 1/O, and Shutters are continuous surfaces which can change shape to modify their topology, texture and permeability, and Six-Forty by Four-Eighty is a light-emitting display surface composed of autonomous and reconfigurable physical pixels. The technical and conceptual objectives of these designs are evaluated through exhibitions in a variety of public spaces, such as museums, galleries, fairs, as well as art and design festivals. This dissertation seeks to provide contributions on multiple levels, including: the development of techniques for the creation and control of programmable surfaces; the definition of a vocabulary and taxonomy to describe and compare previous work in this area; and finally, uncovering design principles for the underlying development of future programmable surface aesthetics.by Marcelo Coelho.Ph.D

Augmenting communication technologies with non-primary sensory modalities

Humans combine their senses to enhance the world around them. While computers have evolved to reflect these sensory demands, only the primary senses of vision and audition (and to an extent, touch) are used in modern communication. This thesis investigated how additional information, such as emotion and navigational assistance, might be communicated using technology-based implementations of sensory displays that output the non-primary modalities of smell, vibrotactile touch, and thermo-touch. This thesis explored using a portable atomiser sprayer to deliver emotional information via smell to mobile phone users, a ring-shaped device worn on the finger to display emotional information using vibration and colours, and an array of thermoelectric coolers worn on the arm to create temperature sensations. Additionally, this thesis explored two methods of signalling temperature using the thermal implementation, and finally, used it in a controlled study to augment the perceived emotion of text messages using temperature. There were challenges with using some of these implementations to display information. Smells produced with the scent technology were ambiguous and highly cognitive, and poor delivery to the user produced undesirable cross-adaption effects when smells lingered and mixed in the environment. The device used to communicate vibrotactile and colour lighting cues neutralized emotions in text messages. Furthermore, temperature pattern discrimination using the thermal implementation was difficult due to non-linear interaction effects that occurred on the skin’s surface, as well as latency resulting from the thermal neurological pathway and the technology used to heat and cool the skin. However, the thermal implementation enabled more accurate user discrimination between thermal signals than what a single stimulator design provided. Furthermore, the utility of continuous thermal feedback, in the context of spatial navigation, was demonstrated, which improved user performance compared to when the user was not presented with any thermal information. Finally, temperature was demonstrated to elicit arousal reactions across subjects using the thermal implementation, and could augment the arousal of text messages, especially when the content of the message was strongly neutral. However, no similar statistical significance was observed with valence, demonstrating the complex implications of using thermal cues to convey emotional information