[EAS]Tele-Smell

[pjk]

Subject:   Tele-Smell

(from INNOVATION, 16 October 2002)

CELL PHONES THAT MAKE SCENTS
Electronic Aromas, based in Inverness, Scotland, is developing
technology  that will deliver aromas to cell phones. The company is
working on a range  of smells for a variety of applications,
including a rendition of the  heathery outdoor scent of the
Highlands countryside. The system uses a  molecule-packed component
that's inserted into the back of the mobile  handset. The component
is then stimulated each time there's an incoming  call from a
specific number and emits a pre-coordinated smell. Dr. George  Dodd,
who heads up Electronic Aromas, says his future plans call for 
distilling and delivering aromatherapy products via phone. (Ananova
14 Oct  2002)
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_689613.html?menu=news.technology

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I can't help being amused by this latest product design venture.
Many years ago, one of the techniques used in discovering new
product possibilities was "gap analysis", a systematic search for
product attributes that haven't been tried before, like wine coolers
or time-shared holiday condos. The standard derogatory joke was that
gap analysis leads to fish-flavored dog food. Maybe dogs are smarter
than people. Phones that smell???  --PJK