Do you think words are not enough?
A German syndicate announced last week that it has patented a chip for sending scents via text and multimedia messages. A spokesperson from mobile services company ConVisual told reporters that people could send the smell of the ocean breeze through cell phones from vacation spots or mark special occasions by sending an aromatic two-dimensional bouquet.
Developers have been working on the chips for eight years, and they could be released to market by 2010, according to a report in the Berlin-based, English-language news site. About 100 scents will be available on the chips, but consumers will need special phones to use them. Developers are seeking partnerships with mobile phone companies for marketing and distribution.
So far, researchers have worked on floral and other enjoyable scents, but the possibilities are endless (ack! are there gross scents coming? I fear!). Fortunately, people with scent-enabled mobile phones will be able to reject messages.
It seems that “scent technology is increasingly attractive.” In the United States, Motorola obtained a patent for smell-releasing phones and explained that the device would “fill a need” and “address problems” of on-the-go consumers who miss the nice fragrances they enjoy from plug-in devices at home.
Let’s see what will happen in 2010 when the smell-phone is finally launched. Therefore, aside from saying “I will text/call you later”, expect to hear “Smell you later“.
witsandnuts 