Coming soon to a nose near you ...
Soon you will be able to enjoy the not only the sights and sounds of far off places via the Internet but the smells as well. DigiScents, Inc., California company is developing the technology for digitizing, transmitting, and synthesizing scent. They will be "scenting" digital media and the Web.

"Digital Scent Technology" is like a language of smells along with the hardware, software components and a special device called the iSmell Personal Scent Synthesizer (iSmell).

The iSmell is a peripheral device, about the size of a PC speaker, that connects to a PC via a serial or USB port. It uses consumable cartridges which are used and replaced similar to the way ink jet printers use ink cartridges. It emits natural-based vapors into the user's personal space. iSmell is triggered either on demand by the user (via a keyboard or mouse action) or via a timed or programmed response (as is the case with a DVD ScentTrack).

Why would anyone do this?

Companies with aromatic products, like perfumes and air fresheners could provide try-before-you-buy interfaces. Cosmetics, spicers, groceries, aromatherapies and other home and personal products could be sampled before purchase. You could make an e-mail more personal, romantic or ... hostile by attaching a scent - I know which scent I'll be sending to Spammers! Also, the world of action games and entertainment could exploit this technology to provide a more immersive experience.

The new art form of Scentography

Scentography is a new form of expression that allows the integration of scents with traditional digital multimedia, such as games, DVDs, and web sites. By allowing you to communicate with smells, Scentography adds a new dimension and richness to web pages and virtually any other form of electronic/digital communication. The capability to digitize and broadcast scents will enable vendors and consumers to send scented mail, establish smell 'n shop electronic kiosks, make and watch scented DVDs, and play scented games and simulations.

How they make scents (of it all)
DigiScents is creating a scent "palette" for designing scents and incorporating them into media presentations. The application software will instruct the iSmell device to emit one or a combination of basic scents to create the final designed aroma. It emits tiny amounts of smell components for the enjoyment of one or two people in front of the PC so that it won't "smell up the whole office." The iSmell can create literally thousands of different smells and you can create smells of just about anything you can imagine.

Digital scents are close to the "real thing" but not exact. Digiscents promises that each new version of the digital scent software and hardware "will bring increasing levels of fidelity".

Is it safe? What about allergies?
It seems that the system is safe for everyone. The iSmell scent cartridges contain mostly natural materials commonly found in the cosmetics, foods and beverages in common daily use. While the artificial smells will not cause an allergic reaction it is possible that a person may have an aversion to odors they associate with unpleasant allergic reaction. Just as if any particular smell reminds you of an unpleasant experience, encountering that smell may not be something you want to do again.

What about Nose-Viruses and Stink bombs?
Digiscents says there is no such thing as a bad smell. But the iSmell is customizable and allows users to to block smells they don't like. More good news: just as you don't want the television or radio or PC going all day (or do you?) the iSmell does have an 'off' switch.

To Learn more
Sign up for FirstWhiff at  www.digiscents.com/scentcity/firstwhiff/index.shtml and they'll keep you posted about late breaking news and notify you when the iSmell system becomes available for purchase. The Internet's first scent-enabled Web portal, called Snortal should be operating soon. There, you will be able to send scented e-mail, design and register your own smells, and make and distribute ScentTracks to accompany movies and music.