Credit: isct.ac.jp
A group of Japanese scientists have presented an odor generator that is installed on virtual reality headsets and produces aromas in the context of the materials the user is viewing.
Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Science and the Rakuten Institute of Technology have developed a wearable olfactory display capable of reproducing odors in virtual reality in real time. The device is a compact module compatible with commercial VR headsets.
The development was led by Professor Takamichi Nakamoto, doctoral student Zhe Zou, and engineer Kelvin Cheng. They succeeded in significantly reducing the size of the control driver compared to previous analogs, which remained too bulky for integration into wearable electronics.
The device operates using a microdispenser that dispenses tiny droplets of liquid fragrance. Ultrasonic waves transform these droplets into a fine mist. An electroosmotic pump, which moves the liquid using an electric current, ensures precise delivery. The system supports the simultaneous mixing of up to eight aromatic components in varying proportions, allowing for the synthesis of a wide range of scents synchronized with visual content.
Using the device, the team created demo content for virtual journeys. Users were able to navigate through various locations and experience the aromas characteristic of each. Test participants confirmed that the presence of scents increased the sense of presence in the virtual environment.
“We also created virtual travel content for these devices so that users could visit various virtual locations and experience the smells, making the journey more realistic,” the professor added. Volunteers who participated in the trial confirmed that the smells made the virtual environment more realistic and improved the sense of presence.
