USC’s Institute for Creative Studies and AnthroTronix have developed a scent collar, as a means of augmenting emotional connection in a simulated environment. The research was funded by the US Army, and the scent necklace releases a variety of scents recently introduced during virtual reality training for military applications.

Yasuyuki Yanagida at the Media Information Science Laboratories in Japan is developing a scent projector that delivers localized odors through the air without requiring users to wear any special devices, and because the projector emits only a small amount of scented air, different scents can be delivered within a short time. Commercial applications for this kind of technology are numerous, including heightening the realism of movies, television viewing, and video games.

[UPDATE: A DEVICE TO RECORD SMELL FOR LATER REPRODUCTION]