# Smart Smelling Sensors The Smelldect Project Aims to Provide Technology with Smelling Features By Justin Lam | Published 2018-06-04 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smelldect-project References: [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/electronic-nose-germany-project/) & [govtech](http://www.govtech.com/question-of-the-day/Question-of-the-Day-for-05312018.html) Smell-o-vision has been a pipedream, or joke, in technology for some time, but the smelldect project may finally turn this dream into a reality. Developed by researchers from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, this new sensor is being touted as an "electronic nose" that is capable of detecting scents faster than a human can. The uses for the smelldect project can be [implemented in smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/infinix-note-50s-5g) but the researchers suggest that the sensor could be used as an ambient air detector, [smoke alarm](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vape-detectors) or shopping aid for groceries. The "nose" itself is just a few centimeters in size, but this small package is filled with nanofibers that react to complex scents. The smelldect project is even capable of [identifying certain scents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/osmo-ai) and can be taught patterns to make this analysis faster. Image Credit: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 74% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Smart Smelling Sensors:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating technology with smelling features. - **Electronic Nose:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the development of sensors that can detect scents faster than humans. - **Ambient Air Detection:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in implementing sensors for detecting and analyzing air quality in various environments. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Consumer Electronics:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in integrating smart smelling sensors into smartphones and other electronic devices. - **Safety and Security:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in using electronic noses as smoke alarms or air quality detectors for improved safety measures. - **Retail and Grocery:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in utilizing smart smelling sensors as shopping aids for detecting product freshness and quality in grocery stores. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Robotic Smell Integrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-smell.md) - [Multipurpose Scent-Releasing Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nosewise.md) - [Smell-Based Disease Detectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diagnoze.md) - [Olfactory Entertainment Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moviescent.md) - [Aromatic Memory Projection Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-camera-memory-station.md) - [Scent-Detecting Robot Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sniff-robot.md) - [AI-Powered Scent Molecules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-molecules.md) - [Scent-Powered Photo Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-stimulation-device.md) - [Fluidless Scent-Releasing Facemasks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-face-mask-1.md)