Smellophone and Smell Tones

Thinking about a new mobile phone? Fancy something a little bit different? How does a Smellophone grab you? Sounds crazy but that's exactly what inventors at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have come up with. The new gadgets are able to record a smell and then later play it back, just like a camcorder.

The boffins from Tokyo have developed a system that can record the smell of bananas, oranges, apples and other fruits on to a system of more than a dozen microchips. These microchips are electronic noses containing chemical sensors that can pick up different traces within the odour. The inventors say that the sensors can produce thousands of different combinations at playback by using 96 manmade chemicals within the device.

The fragrances are stored in a pressurised heating chamber and an ultrasonic controller triggers the release of the perfume. When the perfume is used up, exchangeable cartridges are reloaded.

Some interesting and useful applications may come from the Smellophone. In an emergency situation doctors could be sent the smell of an injured persons wound to see if it has become infected. You could record the smell of a loved one so that you can play it back later when wishing to remember them or even record the smell of a great meal so as to enhance your later memory.

Ringtones would have competition in the form of "smell tones". When someone calls you in the future you could end up with a stink in your pocket.

Although consumers constantly look for evolving customisation, Smellophones may never be released. The problems with the Smellophone concept is one of practicability, with a market trend to ever slimmer and light weight phones the idea of buying a bulkier mobile phone will put a lot of people off. However, having something as cool as a Smellophone may be just enough to pique consumers interest.