Essence: Olfactory Interfaces for Unconscious Influence of Mood and Cognitive Performance

Abstract

The sense of smell is perhaps the most pervasive of all senses, but it is also one of the least understood and least exploited in HCI. We present Essence, the first olfactory computational necklace that can be remotely controlled through a smartphone and can vary the intensity and frequency of the released scent based on biometric or contextual data. This paper discusses the role of smell in designing pervasive systems that affect one's mood and cognitive performance while being asleep or awake. We present a set of applications for this type of technology as well as the implementation of the olfactory display and the supporting software. We also discuss the results of an initial test of the prototype that show the robustness and usability of Essence while wearing it for long periods of time in multiple environments. Keyword: Olfactory Interfaces; Wearable Computers; Behavior Change; Unconscious; Pervasive; Prototyping/Implementation; Fabrication; Fashion/Clothing; Health - Wellbeing; Smell