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Updated: 2004-02-23 01:00

E-mail tries out a sense of smell
体验网络全新感觉 香味电邮即将面世
You could soon be able to spice up your e-mails with your favourite perfume.

UK net provider Telewest Broadband is testing a system to let people to send aromatic e-mails over the internet.

It has developed a kind of hi-tech air freshener that plugs into a PC and sprays a smell linked to the message.

Telewest say it could be used by supermarkets to tempt people with the smell of fresh bread or by holiday companies seeking to stir up images of sun-kissed beaches.

"This could bring an extra whiff of realism to the internet," said Chad Raube, director of internet services at Telewest Broadband.

"We are always looking at ways to enhance the broadband internet experience of the future and this time we are sure consumers will come up smelling of roses."

The technology behind the idea was originally developed by US company Trisenx. Scientists at Telewest's labs have built on that research to come up with the idea of a "scent dome".

The dome comes with a cartridge containing 20 basic aromas, which can be combined to produce up to 60 different smells.

A "scented e-mail" would contain electronic signals that would tell the dome to release the smell of flowers, perfume or coffee.

"Our sense of smell is directly connected to our emotions," said anthropologist Kate Fox, director of the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford.

"Smells trigger very powerful and deep-seated emotional responses, and this additional element to the internet will enhance users' online experience by adding that crucial third dimension."

(Agencies)

不久你就可以为电子邮件加上你喜欢的香味了。

英国Telewest宽带网络提供商正在试验一种能让人们在网上发送带有香味的电子邮件的系统。

该公司开发了一种高科技的空气清新剂。这种空气清新剂接在电脑上,可以散发出与讯息有关的香味。

Telewest公司说超市可以用这种空气清新剂散发出的新鲜面包的香味来吸引顾客,旅游公司可以用它来营造充满阳光的海滩的感觉。

“这会使网络变得更真实。”Telewest公司网络服务部主管查德·劳贝说。

“我们一直在想办法增强未来宽带带给人们的体验,这次我们相信顾客会喜欢玫瑰花的味道。”

支持这一设想的技术最初是由美国Trisenx公司开发的。Telewest公司实验室中的科学家们基于这项研究提出“香味包”的设想。

香味包中含有一个装有20种基本味道的模块,这20种味道可以混合形成60种不同的味道。

“香味电子邮件”中含有电子信号,能够指示香味包散发出花、香水或咖啡的味道。

“我们的嗅觉和情绪是直接联系在一起的,”牛津大学社会现象研究中心主任、人类学专家凯特·福克斯说。

“气味会引起强烈、深刻的情感反应。这种网络上的附加成分会通过增加重要的三维感觉来增强使用者的在线体验。”

(中国日报网站译)

 
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