oPhone enables users to email odours

By THE STANDARD EXTRA

With current technologies, people have a variety of choices of communication. These include phone and video calls as well as text messages. Although these give a variety of ways to communicate, Harvard University scientists have come up with a new device known as the oPhone to better express feelings. It is an odour-emitting device that enables its users to send smells to one another as a text, email or tweet.

 The device is cylindrical in shape and contains ‘oChips’ within it that store and emit several odours – or “oNotes” – that linger for 20 to 30 seconds. oPhone connects to a user’s smartphone via Bluetooth and with the help of a Bluetooth-connected app known as oTracks, one can send their friend (who also has an oPhone) any smell of their choice by simply pushing a button.

The device may be also beneficial in the medical field as the inventors believe that it can help in the treatment of mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.