Odor Recorder: A New Hardware Device

 

Group 7

 

Leann Walls, Elizabeth Rape, Tyler Holland, and Caleb Dewoody

 

 

Key Words: Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal, Odor Blender, Control Application Software

 

 

For some reason, certain smells can trigger memories and feelings. A person may smell a specific odor or aroma from the past and vivid memories of the event and people involved will suddenly come alive in the brain. Imagine capturing that memory triggering smell just like you can capture a photograph. The odor recorder is a new hardware device that can record a target odor and then reproduce it at any given time. This device was created because it could benefit a variety of fields: e-commerce, game, virtual reality, cinema, medical clinic, fragrance creation, flavor creation, artistic expression, etc.

 

The odor recorder project was first started in 1999 by engineers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan at the Nakamoto Lab. The Japanese government has mainly funded the project since it began.

 

The odor recorder works by first introducing the target odor to be recorded. It then is sent to the PC with control application software and the PC uses fifteen chemical-sensing microchips or electronic noses to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of the target smell. This calculation is modified into a digital recipe that is sent through the solenoid valve to a sensor array that is composed of multiple quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors with a variety of coatings. A broad range of scents are then used to construct the digital recipe from a selection of ninety-six non-toxic chemicals. Certain chemicals are selected, from the 96 choices, depending on the target scent that is desired. The applicable chemicals are dropped into vials and mixed together. After being heated and vaporized the desired smell is produced.

 

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measures mass by measuring the change in frequency of a piezoelectric quartz crystal when it is disturbed by the addition of a small mass such as a virus or any other tiny object intended to be measured. It can work under vacuum or liquid environment thus making it useful to determine the properties of polymers and adhesion of proteins. Frequency measurements are easily made to high precision; hence, it is easy to measure small masses” (www.wikipedia.com).

“A piezoelectric quartz crystal gives the ability to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress. When the crystal is subjected to an externally applied voltage, it can change shape by a small amount. This is found useful in “applications such as the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalance, and ultra fine focusing of optical assemblies” (www.wikipedia.com).

 

This device has successfully produced such scents as orange, apple, lemon, peach, and banana. Thus far, thirty-two odors in their vapor stage can be implemented in the odor recorder. By mixing the current scents, the device is able to produce a smell that gives off the aroma of mixed fruit.

 

This device will open up the barrier that faces many online shoppers. The barrier of not knowing what a product smells like before buying it. Items such as flowers, incense, potpourri, and even foods can be smelled right from your computer. The problem of ordering a product without knowing the scent will be solved. This would increase online shopping, which would increase revenues for businesses.

Also, the odor recorder will allow doctors to smell the scent of bile, blood or urine odors. This aspect, whether stomach turning or not, is a breakthrough for the medical field. This will aid doctors in the area of diagnosing patients. Paul Marks, journalist for NewScientist.com, states that the device will “even assist military doctors treating soldiers remotely.” The doctors treating our soldiers will be able instantly smell the aromas that relate to the patient’s symptoms or current state to aid in a faster diagnoses which could save lives.

In addition, this smelling instrument will add to the effects of virtual gaming. All the gaming industry thrives for is to produce the most realistic game. By incorporating this device with a game that has realistic graphics, it will allow users to feel like they are actually inside the game. Just imagine being able to smell all that you see while playing the game, such as gun smoke, trash in the streets or burnt rubber from your car tires. The odor recorder will give a whole new meaning to virtual gaming.

 

Technology already allows us to use two of our five senses. Not to long ago it was unimaginable that we would be able to see the person we were talking to on the phone. Now we are pushing those boundaries again by devising this hardware that will implement a third sense into our electronic uses. Just picture yourself in a movie theatre. The scene is a coffee shop and you can smell coffee just like you were there. This technology will revolutionize the world we live in.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Marks, Paul. (June, 2006). Device Records Smells to Play Back Later. Retrieved September 19,

2006, from http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/mg19125586.300.html

 

Nakamoto Laboratory. (July, 2006). Odor Recorder. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from

            http://silvia.mn.ee.titech.ac.jp/MNL_odor_recorder.htm

 

Red. (August, 2006). The Odor Recorder. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from

            http://www.redferret.net/?p=7387

 

Wikipedia. (2006). Quartz Crystal Microbalance. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_crystal_microbalance

 

Wikipedia. (2006). Piezoelectric. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odor Recorder
Group 7

 

 

1. 

What is an odor recorder?

 

A.  

A machine that tells you when people stink.    

 

B.  

A device that reproduces target odors as well as records it.

 

C.  

A video camera that make smells.

 

D.  

A device that can automatically reproduce a smell.  

 

 

 

 

2. 

Which is not an application of an odor recorder?

 

A.  

games

 

B.  

e-commerce

 

C.  

medical clinic

 

D. 

all are applications of an odor recorder.

 

 

 

 

1. 3.3. 2.3.

What kinds of sensors are used in an odor recorder?

 

A.  

Multiple QCM sensors    

 

B.  

Triple TRL sensors 

 

C.  

Smart sensors

 

D.  

ALT strategic  sensors   

 

 

 

 

4. 

When did the odor recorder project start?

 

A.  

1991    

 

B.  

1900

 

C.  

1999

 

D.  

2004   

 

 

 

 

5. 

Who funded the odor recorder project?

 

A.  

U.S. government

 

B.  

Canadian government

 

C.  

Chinese government

 

D.  

Japanese government

 

 

 

 

6. 

All of the following odors have been reproduced except?

 

A.  

apples    

 

B.  

bananas

 

C.  

kiwi

 

D.  

oranges   

 

 

 

 

7. 

What software system turns the odor into a digital recipe?

 

A.  

Control Application Software    

 

B.  

Digital Recipe Software

 

C.  

OLTP

 

D.  

OLAP