smell-o-vision

Playing on TVs of the future: Smell-O-Vision?

Nowadays, when a friend says her TV stinks, you assume she's talking about picture or sound quality. Some years down the road--assuming certain cross-Pacific R&D pans out--she might mean that literally.

Researchers at the University of California at San Diego are collaborating with Samsung to develop a compact odor-generating component for TVs and cell phones. The as-yet-unnamed device would give television programs and Web sites a palette of 10,000 odors.

Sure, people have been trying to add smell to visual media for a long time (Smell-O-Vision anyone?). The UC San Diego-Samsung collaboration, however, is pushing the technology closer to reality. Miniaturization and digitization are cracking the big challenges of odor-on-demand systems: control and variety.

Odor pixels are the key: a 100x100 matrix of tiny wires will make it easy to heat any one of 10,000 tiny liquid-filled containers.

It'd be cool to catch a whiff of ocean during a beach scene, or take in the heady odor of woodsmoke as a campfire flickers onscreen. But I'm thinking the smells have got to be totally natural. Otherwise, the intense pine forest experience I'm expecting might turn out to be a subliminal cue to break out household cleaning products. Maybe Samsung could offer an eco-organic version. … Read more

The 404 697: Where we have an out-of-office reply (podcast)

Justin is still sick, and Jeff is a runaway bride, so it's just Wilson today. Don't worry because it's not another "cheese stands alone" episode. Natali Del Conte and David Carnoy come in to save the day.

On today's show, we get a first-hand perspective on the new Barnes and Noble Nook Color from CNET Executive Editor David Carnoy. It might be the poor man's iPad, but David thinks it's a worthy competitor to the Amazon Kindle. Natali still prefers her iPad, and Wilson wonders whether consumers will choose the Nook Color or the iPod Touch.

After the break, we get to something sort of scary: Rachael Ray in 3D! That's right. For some people like Wilson, 3D is a mildly nauseating experience, but combined with the queen of faux bubbly's talk show, it might be vomit-inducing. We think the next innovation after 3D is going to be the return of Smell-O-Vision.

Finally, if you want your own copy of David Carnoy's "Knife Music," leave a comment, and we'll randomly choose a winner. Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to how Wilson makes it through another show alone.

Episode 697 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Smell-O-Vision? Kinda.

An advertising kiosk equipped with a 42-inch LCD screen has been wafting out supposedly enticing smells to passers-by in the underground mall of Tokyo Station. A company called Recruit Co Ltd. is marketing the Scent-emitting LCD Display System developed by NTT Communications.

The hope is that people will be attracted by the scent, stop to watch a commercial, and then pick up a coupon book to use for the real version of the supposed deliciousness their nostrils had just encountered.

NTT Communications has been searching for real-world business applications for this technology, testing it in stores, hotels, and cinemas. In … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 698: Beacon will kill you

Today, Buzz is on your side, with such gems of wisdom as "don't shop at Staples," "bacon will kill you," and "how to opt out of Beacon." I guess that last one is pretty helpful. In other news of the day, we refuse to talk about the Google App thing, unless you can prove to us why we should. Thanks in advance. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 698

Google App Engine Blog: Introducing Google App Engine + our new blog http://googleappengine.blogspot.com/2008/04/ introducing-google-app-engine-our-new.html

California Lawmaker Proposes Music … Read more