We’ve all seen movies where someone smells something, and it transports them to another time or place. Whether it’s the smell of freshly baked cookies that takes you back to your childhood or the smell of a summer rainstorm that reminds you of a romantic moment, scent can be a powerful trigger for memories. Now, thanks to OVR Technology‘s ION3, we can experience smell through our entertainment.
What is OVR Technology and how does it work?
OVR Technology’s ION3 merges the virtual reality experience with actual reality through scent. Using an ION3, users can attach scent capsules to their existing virtual reality headsets. When the user is in a particular environment or playing a game, the scent capsule will activate and release the chosen scent. This makes for a more immersive experience as you can smell and sense what’s happening around you like never before.
Imagine being in a cooking game, and while cooking, the game was able to produce scents to represent the virtual food being cooked. Or, in a game like Left 4 Dead, you can smell the environment around you. This would allow you to know when a zombie has approached you based on the strength of the scent. Or you can identify Special Infected because of a change in scent around you. Of course, the smell would not be pleasant, but it would be effective.
How does OVR Technology’s ION3 work?
The system uses a scent cartridge, similar to a printer cartridge. In this cartridge are what the company describes as the eight “core scent profiles.” From these 8 scents, a developer can create a large variety of scents in various strengths. The technology can be integrated into nearly any type of media type, including games and movies, enhancing the experience.
The scents are programmatically created, meaning that the application or media property must be involved in the creation of these scents. This means that developers, directors, and producers are going to have to buy into the concept in order to see this concept gain momentum.
Fortunately, the concept has a long history in entertainment – especially in live entertainment. If you’ve ever been to a theme park, you might have been on one of the 4D experiences. While the majority of the experience is based around a 3D movie, the enhancements come from air, water, and smell. These experiences are scripted and controlled under the constraints of the movie experience, making the technology a little easier.
However, OVR Technology’s ION3 has managed to take the concept and make it universally applicable outside of the controlled environment. In addition, they have made the technology small enough that it can be included into a home rig, but powerful enough to be included into professional experiences.
Summary
The ION3 from OVR Technology is currently planned to be launched publicly during 2023, though plans can always change. To learn more about the company, the ION3, and how this technology might fit into your life, you can head over to the company’s website.
Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.
Get $5 to protect your credit card information online with Privacy.
Amazon Prime gives you more than just free shipping. Get free music, TV shows, movies, videogames and more.
The most flexible tools for podcasting. Get a 30 day free trial of storage and statistics.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Bleujour unveiled a new PC that is sure to capture a rapid and steadily growing market: the traveling gamer. To be specific, the MOVE Ultimate gaming PC was specifically designed to be powerful, upgradable, and also portable! The MOVE Ultimate is built on Intel’s brand new Modular Computing Systems platform, the Intel NUC Elements Extreme, and 
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of 8K video. But what is 8K video? Simply put, 8K refers to the resolution of the video – in other words, the number of pixels. 8K video has a resolution of 7680 x 4320, which is 16 times the resolution of 1080p HD! With consumer interest in 8K on the rise, now is the time for businesses to get on board and capitalize on this growing market. That’s where the 
If you have ever bought a name-brand product online, you know how hard it can be to verify that the product is real. Even in retail stores, you can’t always guarantee that what’s on the shelf is the real thing. And that’s just new – what about when you buy something second-hand at a thrift store or on eBay? It’s a complete gamble whether it’s a genuine product or a knockoff. That’s where 
For content creators, one of the biggest issues can be ensuring that what the end consumer hears and sees is exactly what you intended. In theaters, this problem has been mostly remedied by creating industry standards that apply across theater chains and projector manufacturers. However, as more media has moved to home viewing, the experience changes significantly, depending on the hardware being used – particularly the television. This is exactly the problem that 
When you think of the future, what comes to mind? For many people, it’s images of advanced technology and futuristic inventions. 
Ok, so yeah, we know… you can get a Bluetooth speaker just about anywhere, nowadays. They come in all shapes, sizes, and prices, with varying degrees of quality and features. Honestly, you’d think that a tech broadcast like us might even be pretty sick of them by now. But honestly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It would seem that we just can’t seem to get enough of them because we know that each one can provide a different experience depending on the situation.
Over the centuries, the experience of captaining a boat has remained generally unchanged. Sure, new technology has changed the way you interact with the controls, and new sensors have made it easier to avoid dangers. GPS technology has made long travels safer and more direct. But, 
Over the past few years, we have all become more aware of the common items that we touch every day. Whether it’s the buttons on an elevator, the handle on a public toilet, or even the kiosk at your favorite fast food joint, we touch a lot of things that everyone else and their children have touched. And you absolutely know that those elevator buttons haven’t been cleaned. How can we solve this issue? 
If you’re looking for an attention-grabbing display that will help increase sales and attract consumers, look no further than