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Smell-a-Vision

CD-like device contains scent chemicals
 
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A CD-like disc is coated with micro-encapsulated, very concentrated scent chemicals- (like the "scratch 'n' sniff patches on mafazine ads) - these different scents are arranged on the disc in concentric bands. The TV receives a coded signal from the broadcaster containing a "scent code." A laser then "burns" selected tracts of scent to replicate the desired odor. The resulting blend of scents is dispersed from the TV set with a fan. Battle scenes could be accompanied with the smell of blood and sweat and gunpowder, love scenes could smell like-well, you get the idea.
whlanteigne, Jul 21 2003

Polyester - Oderama movie http://www.wdbgprod...views/polyester.htm
John Walters 1981 movie Polyester with scratch and sniff card [pechewarinum, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

US Patent #6,152,829 (sandeep's patent) http://patft.uspto....=6152829&RS=6152829
Which I think has one of my favorite titles, "Device and process for producing effects". It's some sort of combination videoplayer/scent dispenser. [jutta, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

(?) Dog with early Smell-a-Vision http://harmonyranch...%20Victor%20dog.jpg
[ldischler, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

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       They actually had this with phonograph records. I'll look for a link tomorrow...
snarfyguy, Jul 22 2003
  

       This has baked several companies right out of business.
DeathNinja, Jul 22 2003
  

       Might be a good combo with those new limited use DVDs.
lurch, Jul 22 2003
  

       I had a CD player that did this. Really.   

       Well, it did make a smell whenever I put in a CD. Kind of a burning electronic smell. Then one day, it stopped working.
Cedar Park, Jul 22 2003
  

       Of course you realize, all electronic devices, and a good number of electric ones, are actually powered by dense clouds of white smoke. When the smoke leaks out they quit working.
whlanteigne, Jul 27 2003
  

       That happens with stoners at 4:20.
thumbwax, Jul 27 2003
  

       The idea for smell-a-vision TVs or movies has been around for a long time, and nothing (successful, at least) has made it to market (at least not yet).   

       The main senses that people use are their sight and hearing. Sure, it would be 'nice' to smell a battle scene, but not really required - this would lend itself to becoming a short lived fad and not a standard part of everyday viewing.   

       If the technology was available, it would most likely be very expensive and probably require 'replacement cartridges' of scents to be purchased. Certainly not the qualities you want in a 'fad' type item.   

       There is also the fact that smells 'take time' and linger. It would be very difficult to get the right smell at the right time to match the picture, plus all the smells would begin to combine into one big gross smell as the movie progressed. Would you really want you house to smell like 'blood, sweat, gun powder and love scenes' all combined together... for hours after watching a movie. The overall stench after watching a few movies would become unbearable.   

       The only way I can see to avoid some of these potential problems is to have each viewer wearing a special 'smell mask' (or tube) over their nose. As the scene appears on-screen as tiny amount of smell would be released directly into the nose. But, who would want to wear a mask in order to watch a movie? It becomes once again, and expensive 'fad' item.   

       __________________   

       In another couple 'fad' tv ideas....   

       What about temperature? Shouldn't desert scenes be hot and snow scene be cold? It would be very easy to hookup your DVD to your the thermostat.   

       Wind?... you could have fans in each corner of the room and any windy scenes could have real life wind added to them.   

       Rain?.... okay probably not such a good idea :-)
ModernE, Jul 31 2003
  

       john walters 1981 movie "Polyester" featured an "oderama" (his word) - scratch and sniff card . the audience were given a card and the idea was to scratch at the given time when a number was displayed on screen. Divine farting was one such oderama occasion in the movie!
pechewarinum, Sep 12 2003
  

       Food commercials are already designed to make you hungry... can you imagine the staggering global obesity level that would result from the food aromas now coming from your TV?
phundug, Sep 12 2003
  

       Now its going to be digital smell o vision,which will bring virtual reality closer to reality. Sandeep Jaidka Inventor USA pat no-6152829. sandeepjaidka@yahoo.co.uk
sandeep, Oct 27 2003
  

       Wouldnt you call it Tele-smell, instead of Smell-o-vision? Your name implies that you can smell the images, instead of smelling scents. Good idea, but change the name to TELE-SMELL, or TELE-OLFACTORY.
corporatedipshit, Mar 13 2004
  

       This would be very popular with the canine set.
ldischler, Jun 03 2004
  
      
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