With Wikileaks making waves during the presidential election and the new Edward Snowden movie in theaters, the 'Smell of Data' is a novel and bizarre way to help people conceptualize the effects of their data being leaked. The tennis ball-sized device is a scent diffuser that connects via Bluetooth to consumer's computers and emits an unpleasant metallic odor as an alert to data leaks.
Leanne Wijnsma, the artist behind the Smell of Data, was inspired by an infamous gas explosion in Texas in 1937. Because no one detected the odorless gas in the air, the government subsequently decided to add a harmless scent to odorless gasses, and that practice has since saved many lives. In the same way, the Smell of Data is meant to alert people to what would otherwise be undetectable -- a data leakage rather than a gas leakage.
Fragrant Data Leakage Alerts
'Smell of Data' Emits an Unpleasant Scent When One's Data is Leaked
Trend Themes
1. Data Leakage Awareness - Creating novel ways for people to understand and be alerted to the impact of data leakage.
2. Sensory Technology - Developing innovative devices that engage multiple senses to enhance user experiences and provide alerts.
3. Cybersecurity Innovation - Exploring new approaches to detecting and preventing data leaks in an increasingly digital landscape.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Opportunity for technology companies to develop sensory-based cybersecurity solutions.
2. Art and Design - Using creative concepts in collaboration with technology to raise awareness about data privacy.
3. Iot (internet of Things) - Integration of scent diffusers into smart home devices to provide data leakage alerts.