31189a - Progress challenge 02

Future delivery platforms

NOTE: This challenge will help you complete assessment 4.

Digital content runs on different delivery platforms. You might consume or share content on your smart phone, Blu-ray player or on a desktop computer via the internet.

Research one new* delivery platform or device that is expected to change the way we share content. For example, you could research wearable devices.

It could be a piece of equipment or a technology that is expected to change our future (*New – currently being developed or released within the last 12 months.)

Submit a one-page poster about the platform or device. The poster should describe what it is, how it works and what it will bring us. This can be communicated in any way on the poster and you do not have to use text if you choose not to.

Answer

I chose Smell-O-Vision, but I know it was something that failed dismally.  See ‘The 50 Worst Internet Start-up Fails of All Time, in Complex, http://au.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/10/the-50-worst-internet-startup-fails-of-all-time/ (Retrieved Friday, 9 December 2016 at 22:46 AEST).  On this list, they stated that the company ‘Digiscents’ ranked 32^nd on the list. 

Year Of Birth: 1999
Year Of Demise: 2011
CEO: Joseph Deutsch
Founded By: Dexter Smith and Joel Bellenson

Digiscents was a company that developed the iSmell, a device that plugged into a computer’s USB port and, in theory, generated different scents. Based on the online content being accessed by a user, the iSmell would emit an appropriate odour. Since the Internet is primarily used to watch porn and play World of War craft, the idea of an odour shamefully reminding you of your loneliness failed miserably. 

The Oakland-based technology company laid off all 70 of its employees in '11.Complex also rated it the third worst ‘tech fail’ of all time: http://au.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/04/the-50-worst-fails-in-tech-history/ (retrieved Friday, 9 December 2016 at 23:06).  Here is what they had to say about it:

Launch date: 2001
Fatal flaw(s): Ridiculous concept

For those of you that are unfamiliar, the iSmell was a product that sat on your desk and contained a cartridge with 128 "primary odours" that could be mixed together to form a smell that was supposedly emanating from a website you were visiting or e-mail you opened. Yes, this really existed. No, it was not a success.  It. Was. A. Product. That. Let. You. Smell. The. Internet. It would be cool for food websites, or for perfume shopping for your girl, but besides those two infrequent Internet queries, we cannot see why anyone would need one of these. Well, we can, but eww.

Another device similar to Digiscents was The Madeleine: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2013/jun/28/scentography-camera-records-smells-memory, a device which was invented by Amy Radcliffe.  Currently, this device is only a prototype.

Another device goes by the name, Olly: https://www.cnet.com/news/olly-can-make-tweets-smell-sweet/.   Again, this device is not available commercially either.

However, TV and movies with opportunities to smell and even touch things could be a reality by 2020: http://betanews.com/2005/08/19/3d-tv-with-touch-smell-by-2020/

The ‘smelling screen’ has already been invented by the Japanese (see https://www.cnet.com/news/japanese-scientists-create-smell-o-vision-screen/ and https://www.cnet.com/news/playing-on-tvs-of-the-future-smell-o-vision/ for more information); and odour-generating components may be available for TVs and mobile phones very shortly (http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_releases/release.sfe?id=1082).

Imagine what this could do for The Bag Lady – the smell of new leather, for instance.  Maybe even touch the bag (without having to buy it, of course).  One can only imagine the joys of being able to touch a fluffy bag or smell a brand new leather one. J

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Figure 1: iSmell Prototypes (image c/o Wikipedia)

Figure 2: The Madeline Prototype (image c/o The Guardian)

My own invention: The Yum-yum smelling screen J

Introducing the Yum-yum – Smell-o-Vision for your home!

Did you always want to smell your favourite recipes from Master Chef?  Alternatively, find out what it is like to breathe the crisp mountain air of the Austrian Tyrol while watching The Sound of Music?  Even catch a whiff of the ocean while keeping score of the Sydney to Hobart yacht races?

Well, now you can; and you can do it in your own home, thanks to the Yum-yum Olfactory TV by LG (Life’s Good)[1].

Moreover, if you do not like the smells emanating from your screen while viewing Slum-dog Millionaire or Kenny, you can now switch off the olfactory function to block out those offensive odours.

So, get yours by December 2017 and you can win a free trip to India (if you are partial to the smell of curry or tandoori).  J

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[1] Disclaimer: This advertisement is for the purpose of a Progress Challenge for the Diploma of Graphic Design course with Open Colleges, and not for LG or any of its affiliated companies.  For more information on LG and its products, please go to http://www.lg.com/au.  If you are interested in television and home entertainment, please visit this page - http://www.lg.com/au/tvs/all-tvs.