iSmell

The iSmell Personal Scent Synthesizer developed by DigiScents Inc. is a small device that can be connected to a computer through a Universal serial bus (USB) port and powered using any ordinary electrical outlet. The appearance of the device is similar to that of a shark’s fin, with many holes lining the “fin” to release the various scents. Using a cartridge similar to a printer’s, it can synthesize and even create new smells by combining certain combinations of other scents. These newly created odors can be used to closely replicate common natural and manmade odors. The cartridges used also need to be swapped every so often once the scents inside are used up. Once partnered with websites and interactive media, the scents can be activated either automatically once a website is opened or manually. However, the product is no longer on the market and never generated substantial sales. Digiscent had plans for the iSmell to have several versions but did not progress past the prototype stage. The company did not last long and filed for bankruptcy a short time after.[1]

Image of iSmell device

In 2006, the iSmell was named one of the "25 Worst Tech Products of All Time" by PC World Magazine, which commented that "[f]ew products literally stink, but this one did--or at least it would have, had it progressed beyond the prototype stage."[2]

Digiscent

Company Start

In 1999, Joel Lloyd Bellenson and Dexter Smith, on vacation in Miami, began to think about how to store and reproduce the smells that they had experienced on the beach. They first worked to create a database of smells and then they created the device that would connect to the PC, the iSmell. Their idea was considered to be somewhat profitable, as they had raised “$20 million investments by major investors”[3] such as Givaudan, the largest perfumes and essences company and Real Networks, a provider of streaming services.

Bankruptcy

The iSmell failed to get the interest of the public. When looking at what went wrong for the iSmell, it is revealed that the missing link was a market survey. According to Startupover’s Andrea Dusi, the iSmell “was definitely a nice idea, but not a useful one”.[4] DigiScents has shut down due to a lack of funding, although it still “continues to license its technology and is looking for funding for a relaunch.[5]

Failure

The iSmell was a failure due to the fact that it did not meet any needs. The final product working was not the reason for its failure. As John Hayes, one of the iSmell’s supporters, said, “I know the damn thing worked- I had a working one on my desk”.[6] Its fatal flaw was that its concept was considered by many to be ridiculous. It would be useful for browsing through food or perfume websites, but beyond that, “we can’t see why anyone would need one of these”.[7]

Product design

The iSmell was designed to be easy to set up and use, a simple USB port and a cable to be plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet. Digiscents collected thousands of smells based on their chemical makeup and their spot on the spectrum of smells. Each combination of chemicals was then assigned to a small file that represented that specific mixture of ingredients. The file is then embedded into a website, email, or computer program. The user triggers the smell by clicking on the file or opening an email. When the file is opened, that file is sent to the Digiscent and the iSmell will emit the correct combination and amount of chemicals to replicate the requested smell.[8]

Prototype

The original prototype was a black box that was 5 inches deep, 2 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. The device would contain a cartridge which held a set amount of smells. When activated, a fan will start sucking in air through the rear end, and blowing it over tiny vials of oil, being selectively heated based on the desired chemical combination. The air picks up the smell and is sent out of a 2-inch vent, then into your nose.[9]

Flaws

The flaws in the design were not in the technology, but the idea. The product worked as designed and had no technical issues. The flaw was in the idea. There was no demand for a product like the iSmell, and it wasn’t innovative enough to catch anybody's attention. The iSmell was trying to solve a problem that nobody had.[10]

Breakdown of iSmell

Chemicals used to Create Smells

The main points that the article talks about with the technical break down it discusses the idea that the system that is involved in the actual product is very similar to a printer where there are cartridges within the actual product and that there are 128 chemicals that are stored and they are from usually natural oil and other fragrances. Simonharrop2 writes, “Unlike a printing system which basically just needs Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, any system to recreate more than one or two basic aroma compounds with any degree of fidelity, would have to have reservoirs or cartridges of hundreds of different base aroma chemicals…".[11] Which in this situation it basically discusses the entire process summarized of the chemical breakdown.

Dispensing of chemicals into air to create smell

The way the iSmell dispenses the chemicals into the air is very similar to a Febreze dispenser where it releases the chemicals and the chemicals dissolve in the air. In the article “How Internet Odors Will Work” it describes the process of how the aromas are dispensed into the air, “ A user requests or triggers the file by clicking a mouse or opening an e-mail, A small amount of the aroma is emitted by the device in the direct vicinity of the user”.[12]

Design of Dispensers and Chemical Banks

The design of the dispenser is basically “shaped like a shark's fin, and it will be connected to your PC through a serial or universal serial bus (USB) port. It can be plugged into any ordinary electrical outlet."[13]

Integration

The iSmell was also designed for use inside games and movies. The modular design of the iSmell allows a programmer to integrate smell activation files that will trigger the release of any smell or combination that they desire. If the user were to watch a movie with the digiscent files embedded, the user can smell the surroundings of each scene. The smell of fresh cut grass on rolling hills or the smell of burgers on the grill while watching a cooking show. Video Games aren’t excluded either, the same principle applies, in a racing game, burning rubber, in an action game, gunpowder.

See also

References
  1. Martin, James A. (1999-10-13). "Sniff That Web Site". PC World. Archived from the original on 2007-01-15. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  2. Tynan, Dan (May 26, 2006). "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time". PC World. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  3. Dusi, Andrea (2014-01-19). "Why ISmell failed, besides 20M $? The smell of failure". Startup Over. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  4. Dusi, Andrea (2014-01-19). "Why ISmell failed, besides 20M $? The smell of failure". Startup Over. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  5. "Smell that Perfume Online - PCQuest". PCQuest. 2001-06-18. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  6. "Vaporware 2001: Empty Promises". WIRED. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  7. "The 50 Worst Fails In Tech History". Complex. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  8. “How Internet Odors Will Work.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 5 Jan. 2001, computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-odor1.htm.
  9. Platt, Charles (1999-01-11). "You've Got Smell!". Wired.com. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  10. Hamnes, Kari (2002-02-20). "Smelly Interfaces" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  11. Dusi, Andrea (2014-01-19). "Why ISmell failed, besides 20M $? The smell of failure". Startup Over. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  12. "How Internet Odors Will Work". HowStuffWorks. 2001-01-05. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  13. "How Internet Odors Will Work". HowStuffWorks. 2001-01-05. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
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