Electronics

The Scent Rhythm watch tells time by releasing fragrances

The Scent Rhythm watch tells time by releasing fragrances
The Scent Rhythm watch aims to have people smell the passage of time (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
The Scent Rhythm watch aims to have people smell the passage of time (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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A view of the scents along with the chemical supplements (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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A view of the scents along with the chemical supplements (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
A look at the four glass bulbs containing the different scents (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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A look at the four glass bulbs containing the different scents (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
The Scent Rhythm watch aims to have people smell the passage of time (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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The Scent Rhythm watch aims to have people smell the passage of time (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
The electronic layout inside Scent Rhythm (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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The electronic layout inside Scent Rhythm (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
A user inhales the whiff of scent emitted by the scent watch (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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A user inhales the whiff of scent emitted by the scent watch (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
Mapping the 24-hour cycle to chemical supplements (Image: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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Mapping the 24-hour cycle to chemical supplements (Image: Aisen Caro Chacin)
Users can choose to switch off the emitter or select one of the fout scents manually, instead of going with the default setting (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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Users can choose to switch off the emitter or select one of the fout scents manually, instead of going with the default setting (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
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Glancing at a clock face in one form or another has been the de facto way to measure the passage of time. Aisen Caro Chacin though, is exploring a different perspective. She wants to give everyone the ability to tell time using their noses. Her chemical-based watch called the Scent Rhythm emits specially-designed fragrances in minute doses, in tune with circadian cycle of the human body. You get a fragrance of coffee in the morning, the smell of money in the afternoon, a relaxing whiskey scent in the evening, and a soothing chamomile fragrance at night. More than being merely pleasant, each chemically-supplemented scent aims to induce action appropriate to the time of day; the caffeine in the coffee scent for example, aims to trigger the person into being more active.

"I have found that detonating scent is a great way to understand time in a passive way," Chacin, a Physical Computing Lecturer at The New School, New York, tells Gizmag. "I designed the watch with integrating time perception with a gradual change – a reminder that has a chemical component such as scent."

The Scent Rhythm watch packs four glass bulbs into its large frame. Each bulb is filled with around a milliliter of one of the four liquid scents. Piezoelectric atomizers convert the liquid scent into puffs of misty fragrance, when triggered by the watch's microcontroller. Though it's set to release a fragrance every 10 seconds, this feature can be turned on or off at will.

The watch continues to keep track of time through a real time clock circuit. It's powered through a lithium-ion battery pack, that's charged via a micro USB port; a single charge lasts for about 24 hours.

The watch is attuned to a person's circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, which regulates the 24-hour cycle of the body's biological processes. Correspondingly, the watch keeps track of time in four segments of six hours each, and triggers the related scent emitter. From 6 am to midday, or the rise period, the Scent Rhythm emits whiffs of coffee with caffeine.

In the active period, from 12 noon until 6 pm, it emits a scent of money (paper and tarnish) that's supplemented with ginko biloba. The evening block lasting from 6 pm to 12 am, or the rest period, features a scent of whiskey and tobacco, along with valerian root. Chamomile enhanced with melatonin is the final scent, emitted from 12 am to 6 am, the doze period.

A view of the scents along with the chemical supplements (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)
A view of the scents along with the chemical supplements (Photo: Aisen Caro Chacin)

Chacin decided to chemically supplement each scent to potentially enhance its psychological effect and promote the production of neurotransmitters, that would induce an appropriate action. Melatonin, for instance, which is released by the pineal gland, controls sleep cycles. The melatonin-enhanced scent is designed to elicit sleep. Chacin chose the smell of money, aiming to get people to be more productive.

"I was trying to figure out a smell that would get people going," Chacin tells us. "I find that 12 - 6 pm is the time where people get things done. Also, I wanted something that would induce a higher production of dopamine. Even though I can't say for sure the smell of money can do that, I was speculating that it could."

Though it might sound a little far-fetched, Scent Rhythm could have many useful applications, such as releasing low dosages of air-borne drugs or supplements in a timely fashion. It could also benefit people with circadian disorders or the visually challenged.

As of writing, Chacin has created a fully functional prototype, but says that the watch still needs a lot of research and development pertaining to scent containment, and plans to collaborate with chemists to better understand scent behaviors.

Source: Aisen Caro Chacin

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6 comments
6 comments
Chizzy
This is a horrible idea. As a person disabled with severe chemical sensitivities this watch only makes people ticking time bombs, waiting to send me to the hospital. Fragrances are unregulated, and filled with toxins that sensitive people react very badly to. Toxins that are also harmful to the non sensitive people out there.
The Skud
Seems to me to have at least 3 major flaws - 1: The first time you have a cold, your nose clogs up and it is useless. 2: Anyone on any sort of rolling day/night work shifts would be reprogramming it every week. 3: It would be easily overpowered by anybody wearing too much perfume or aftershave - and that is a lot of people. I could probably list 5-6 others without really trying. An idea needing too much money (research) thrown at it to bother with any further.
Nairda
Ultrasonic dehumidifiers use relatively little power. If this unit incorporated one of those you can fill the small vials with whatever without resorting to dangerous chemicals.
I for one would love it if the room filled up with the smell of beer at 1600 on a Friday.
Though it would also be better if this device was not wearable, ie - prefer the clock on the table to fulfill the task.
Mel Tisdale
Never mind being in tune with my circadian rhythms, I want one in tune with my digestive rhythms, especially when I have been eating baked beans or sprouts. I am sure my friends would concur.
Joshua Fan
This is about as good of an idea as a watch that shocks you to mark the passing of an hour.
Michael Crumpton
Really? They passed up "Scents of time" and "Temporal Scents" for Scent Rhythm? That's almost as good as SmelloClock!