Scent-emitting advertising trial sniffs out suckers in Japan

Apparently July is a hot month for ad trials in Japan, as just weeks after a number of 65-inch digital posters were installed in a Tokyo train station, in flies word that yet another consumer-luring installation is being tested. Recruit and NTT Communications are delivering Scent-emitting LCD Display Systems to an underground mall in the heart of Japan, each of which rely on a 42-inch LCD and a scent-sprayer that emits delightful odors to correspond with the on-screen imagery. The goal is to attract onlookers and get them to grab a nearby coupon book, but considering that the experiment shuts down on August 1st, you should probably get your nose down there in a hurry if you're looking to score some savings.

[prime @ Jul 28th 2008 11:03PM]

It stinks...............lol

[TheGasMan @ Jul 28th 2008 11:33PM]

I see what you did there. Clever!

[Techie @ Jul 29th 2008 2:37AM]

Smell like burn silicon

[John @ Jul 28th 2008 11:11PM]

doing stuff with smells always seemed a bit stupid to me... you can't really change scents on demand since it's dispersed in the air, your 'resolution', as it were, of scents is always going to be extremely limited, the capability to create scents would depend on it being restocked every so often, etc... just stick to sight, sound, and feel. Leave taste, smell, and the ability to see dead people out of the picture.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Jul 28th 2008 11:12PM]

I'm so gonna hack that thing to emit fart scents all day long.

[quomen @ Jul 28th 2008 11:14PM]

So what does a salty fart taste like?

[Ignatius @ Jul 28th 2008 11:20PM]

Nitrogen - 20% - 90%

Hydrogen - 0% - 50%

Carbon Dioxide - 10% - 30%

Oxygen - 0% - 10%

Methane - 0% - 10%

[jc @ Jul 28th 2008 11:41PM]

too bad the machine looks like yucky arcade stand from the 80s. Cmon Japan, your're suppose to dazzle us with dolled up electronics regardless of its purpose.

[andres @ Jul 29th 2008 12:24AM]

needs more led's

[YpoCaramel @ Jul 29th 2008 1:00AM]

There's a lot of things that look like 80's arcade stands in Japan that really quite fun...

Like photosticker stands... well... um... okay.... maybe... but...

[Darkon @ Jul 29th 2008 2:14AM]

It needs more Cow bell!

[LocalToast @ Jul 28th 2008 11:46PM]

If I understand correctly, the LCD only shows delightful images, while a separate scent-spraying device corresponds with the image with a matching scent?

So it's not simulating scents, but actually a mechanism that sprays a bottle of perfume? Otherwise, that's totally dope.

[Pc_Madness @ Jul 28th 2008 11:57PM]

Can we get all links disabled in posts? Seriously, go get a life.

[JAY JAY @ Jul 29th 2008 12:24AM]

Finally, Smellovision exists?

[Kris @ Jul 29th 2008 1:29AM]

Dont you guys remember when we were sitting in out lounges a few years back, and there was talk of this?

Then you go, imagine the cool flower smells. And the fresh sea air... Then you realise that someone will take it too far, and eventually have ugly smells... Then you go, "Oh my word, I'm so glad this thing isnt real!"

But now, alas, its real... :(

[Craig @ Jul 29th 2008 3:24AM]

Anybody know where this is? I live in Tokyo and I'm curious to check it out.

[Nate DiDonato @ Jul 29th 2008 3:58AM]

Yaesu Underground Mall.

says in the link.

[r-o-b @ Jul 29th 2008 6:48AM]

*smell machine says* "New Acme Fertiliser; Smell the Difference!"........................................OH GOD

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 29th 2008 11:52AM]

I like the tasteful 1970's styling.

[Josh @ Jul 29th 2008 11:52AM]

Japan has the highest concentration (1 for every 23 people) of vending machines in the world (from traditional stuff to chicken, rice, ice cream, music, umbrellas... you name it). Japanese are into "automated" stuff.

The use of mobiles to buy is on the rise as well. Using barcodes and new technologies, as mentioned here http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=617&doc_id=160062&f_src=flffour marketeers are trying to make a push towards it.