One of the most memorable lines in movie history, ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning’ as said by actor Robert Duvalls scene from Apocalypse Now could be re-enacted in millions of homes thanks to new technology that will allow computer games consoles to release the scent of war.
The Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom is part-funding a project in which foul smells are released into the air during training videos so that recruits can learn to sniff out trouble. If this technology proves to be a success,it is expected to be taken up by the big console manufacturers Microsoft and Sony for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The team of psychologists and computer engineers are developing the technology for the British Army to bombard the troops with odours that range from body sweat to diesel exhaust. The scent deliver system consists of a compressed air chamber with four fans and eight compartments, which each holds a pot of wax that has been chemically impregnated with a odour of choice.
I cant help but think that this might be a good idea for training recruits in the army, but is it really practical for home use? I don’t really want to play a game and then start smelling nasty stuff like sewage (which is one of the smells in it).
Huh.
Well, hey, it ain’t any more ridiculous an idea than this, right? *laughs*
Would be great to see if something materialises from this. Other than a bad odour, of course…
I can understand that this is useable for the training of army recruits, but on home consoles? What’s really the point? I’m not sure I want to smell what Rapture in Bioshock smells like.
Sooo…I can’t help but wonder if you’re nailing a hooker in GTA if this system can accurately reproduce the mixed odor of Chanel 5 and skankmeat.
@Chance,
Hot.