NEWS: Indian gets patent for virtual smell technology

[Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>]

Indian gets patent for virtual smell technology

by Deepshikha Ghosh, India Abroad News Service

New Delhi, Feb 14 - Wake up and smell the coffee. Stop to smell the 
roses.  Take in a whiff of fresh air, walk on damp grass. You don't 
have to move a muscle for all this - just tune in to a television or a 
computer.

India might have run into problems with its attempt to patent Basmati 
rice, but it is an Indian who will enable us to inhale the aroma of 
rice while it is cooking on television.

Sandeep Jaidka, obtained the world's first patent on the creation of 
smell and sensation through multimedia from the United States Patent 
Office last month. His invention relies on digitally encoded signals to 
produce a variety of sensations not specific to an enclosed or open 
space.

"You can smell through your hi-fi system, computer, telephone and
television - any mode of two-way interaction", Jaidka told 
Indiaabroad.com, calling his invention the "Rudraksha R3."

The device has a tape or a disc with coded signals for producing a 
variety of natural effects and an electronic decoder connected to an 
actuating device to release the desired aroma. The coded signals can be 
either in the analog or digital form.

Jaidka said, "the viewer can be transported into a virtual world 
complete with the sensations of smell and feeling. You can now not only 
see the advertisement for a cup of coffee, but also smell it." Too much 
reality can, of course, cause problems for the couch potato, but the 
inventor confines himself to the pleasurable aromas.

Co-inventor Kewal Kohli believes the R3 can revolutionize medicine and
aromatherapy. "A doctor can cure his patients through remote therapy 
through this technology. Also, coded signals that release minute 
quantities of chemicals can work as medicine patches, and inhalable 
drugs to treat asthma".

The possibilities are endless. Imagine the devout Hindu unable to make 
time to visit the temple. He can just switch on the CD player and smell 
the aroma without lighting incense sticks.

The patent obtained, the inventors are now worried about the 
application. In order to put their product into practice, they need 
more than $10 million. "We need a channel for transmitting a coded 
signal. Now, micro containers are embedded in silicon chips - to get a 
silicon lab we need  $ 100 million." The quest for a financier has 
begun.

Meanwhile, several multinational firms are testing waters with their
versions of virtual smell solutions. A chip containing reservoirs of 
smell built into its silicon structure has been developed at the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). France Telecom is 
exploring the market for e-scents. Our inventors smell a rat.

"Our patent is dated 1998, which gives us rights to the technology 
before anyone else. We will write to the patent office against 
violations," Jaidka said. He is also looking to sell his technology to 
foreign companies and ensure his share in this splendid leap towards 
the fourth dimension of human technology.

As for taste and touch through the screen, there is time for that yet,
although companies are working on it.