Scent Box: Prototyping and Instructions for Olfactory Enhancement of VR-Experiences
Keywords:
Virtual Reality, Multisensory, Instructional Technology, Usability, Human FactorsAbstract
Research on the impact of adding scent to modern immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance its benefits is still in its infancy. While scent diffusers for Virtual Reality have not yet reached the mass market, there have been different approaches developing such diffusers in the research context.
However, adding olfactory scents to VR experiences is still controversial due to mixed results as well as practical obstacles to its implementation. In this paper, the conceptualization and development of the Scent Box, a low-cost system for choreographed scent diffusion for VR experiences, are described, which enables users to explore different scents automatically while in a VR application. Subsequently, lessons learned as well as a practitioners' guide are stated. We describe the functionality of the Scent Box and evaluate its chances and challenges for future VR settings based on our experiences during a feasibility test with N = 22.
Hence, the aim of this paper is twofold: a) to describe the development and functionality of a prototype that enables users to explore multiple scents in a VR experience, and b) to provide insights into key lessons learned regarding usability and application of the Scent Box from an experimenter’s perspective with instructions and suggestions for further usage.
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