Japan's NTT to Test New Mobile Fragrance Communication Service
April 13, 2008 10:32 AM | Technology | Comments (0)
| NTT Communications recently announced that it will conduct a pilot test of its new Mobile Fragrance Communication (Kaori Tsushin Mobile) service, a mobile version of an existing service for enjoying downloaded audiovisual content together with specific fragrances that are emitted by a dedicated device. The pilot test will run from April 10 to 20. (Note: Last May Motorola received a patent for a mobile device having a scent release feature.) First launched for home use in 2005, Fragrance Communication is now used by companies and individuals to enhance indoor environments with pleasing fragrances. The new mobile version offers the convenience of using mobile communication to download Fragrance Playlists, or files of recipes for specific fragrances together with visual (GIF animation) and audio (MIDI) content. The Fragrance Playlists are downloaded from the "i-mode" mobile website of sister company NTT DoCoMo. Using the phone's infrared port, the fragrance data is transferred to a device that has been loaded with a cartridge of essences, or base fragrances (See Attachment 1 below). |  |
The device, a smaller, lighter and more stylish version of the previous model, then mixes the specific fragrances and emits them as the user enjoys the A/V content played back on their phone (See Attachment 2 below).
The Fragrance Playlists also can be edited as well as shared with others who subscribe to the service.
Also to be tested is a device controller, called the Service Gateway, which controls the operation of devices in the Mobile Fragrance Communication system. The gateway connects with the Internet, so instructions can be sent remotely from a mobile phone. For example, commands could be sent to the gateway to instruct the fragrance device to begin operating just before the user arrives home (See Attachment 3 below).
In the pilot test, a total of 20 male and female monitors will each receive a free Mobile Fragrance Communication kit containing a mobile phone and fragrance device. Five of the monitors will also be given Service Gateway modules. After using the service for ten days, the monitors will complete questionnaires and take part in a group interview. NTT Com will use the information to learn about the monitors' preferences for when, where and how to use the service, as well as their opinions of the fragrance device's design and usability.
NTT Com also announced today that it will begin accepting applications from companies in Japan that wish to develop content and applications for the forthcoming commercial version of the Mobile Fragrance Communication service, including:
- Ringtones, music or horoscopes combined with fragrances.
- Applications for housing, automotive, consumer electronics or videogame markets.
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