Category
Tech
Delegated Interfaces
4.0
Trend score
Trend
What is the Olfactory Tech trend?
Olfactory Tech: Technology can satisfy many senses, however the relationship between tech and the sense of smell has remained untapped til now. This is due to more than technological advancement. The mainstream acceptance of VR and AR technologies has ushered in a consumer demand for even more immersion. In this regard, integrating scent was the natural next step, and speaks to the importance of maintaining foresight when using new technologies.
Trend themes
Themes within the Olfactory Tech trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Multi-Sensory Immersion
Consumers demand for more immersion in VR technology, speakers and other gadgets.
02
Integrating Sensory Functions with Technology
Devices such as the 'Smell of Data' aim to provide a more organic connection of users with their devices to sense data breaches.
03
Synthetic Olfactory Devices
Devices such as the 'Bouquet' turn color into scent, creating an augmented reality.
Industry implications
What the Olfactory Tech trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Virtual Reality
Integrating scents in VR technology can provide an even greater level of immersion for users.
For
Cybersecurity
Utilizing senses such as smell to detect online threats provides a unique security solution for consumers.
For
Beauty
The 'Delicious Dryer' and other scent-infused hair products have the potential to create new multi-sensory beauty experiences.
Workshop question
What is a technology you're currently using? What will that technology look like in 5, 10 and 15 years?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Olfactory Tech
Trend score 4.0 out of 10, from popularity 69%, activity 43%, freshness 8%.
Popularity69%
Activity43%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
South America
Africa
Evidence
Examples of the Olfactory Tech trend
3 featured examples from May 16 to Sep 18, 2017CategoryFashion
Scent-Emitting Hair Dryers
The 'Delicious Dryer' is Equipped with Scent-Infused Cartridges
There is an opportunity for beauty brands to incorporate scent and other sensory elements into their products and tools to enhance the customer experience.
CategoryUnique
Synthetic Olfactory Devices
The 'Bouquet' is a Device That Lets Users Smell Color
The color-to-scent translation feature of the 'Bouquet' device presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the children's toy industry, offering a unique interactive and educa…
CategoryTech
Scent-Based Security Devices
The 'Smell of Data' Device Warns of Data Breaches with Scent
The development of smell-based devices is an opportunity to enhance the detection of online threats.
