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Scent Box: Prototyping and Instructions for Olfactory Enhancement of VR-Experiences

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Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN 2024)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 2271))

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Abstract

Research on the impact of adding scent to modern immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance its benefits is still in its infancy. While scent diffusers for Virtual Reality have not yet reached the mass market, there have been different approaches developing such diffusers in the research context. However, adding olfactory scents to VR experiences is still controversial due to mixed results as well as practical obstacles to its implementation. In this paper, the conceptualization and development of the Scent Box, a low-cost system for choreographed scent diffusion for VR experiences, are described, which enables users to explore different scents automatically while in a VR application. Subsequently, lessons learned as well as a practitioners’ guide are stated. We describe the functionality of the Scent Box and evaluate its chances and challenges for future VR settings based on our experiences during a feasibility test with N = 22. Hence, the aim of this paper is twofold: a) to describe the development and functionality of a prototype that enables users to explore multiple scents in a VR experience, and b) to provide insights into key lessons learned regarding usability and application of the Scent Box from an experimenter’s perspective with instructions and suggestions for further usage.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Technical University Berlin and the Chair of Human-Machine Systems for funding the experiment and providing the facilities and opportunity to conduct this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Pia Spangenberger

  2. Chair of Human-Machine Systems, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Kilian Sanchez-Holguin & Sarah-Christin Freytag

Authors
  1. Pia Spangenberger
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  2. Kilian Sanchez-Holguin
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  3. Sarah-Christin Freytag
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pia Spangenberger .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Jule M. Krüger

  2. Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal

    Daniela Pedrosa

  3. University of Arkansas, Arkansas, AR, USA

    Dennis Beck

  4. Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Marie-Luce Bourguet

  5. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany

    Andreas Dengel

  6. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Rami Ghannam

  7. University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK

    Alan Miller

  8. BT Research Labs, Ipswich, UK

    Anasol Peña-Rios

  9. University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Jonathon Richter

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Disclosure of Interests

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Supplementary Material

Arduino IDE Script, online available as OSF link: https://osf.io/2sg9y.

Appendix A

Appendix A

German sub-scale regarding the perception of tested multisensory enhancements (German version).

Question/Item

Answer

Ich habe den Blätterhut wahrgenommen

ja/nein

Falls ja, inwiefern stimmen Sie den folgenden Aussage zu? (0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark). Während der VR Erfahrung hat der Blätterhut dazu beigetragen, dass ich mich als Baum gefühlt habe

0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark

Ich habe die Duftstoffe wahrgenommen:

ja/nein

Falls ja, inwiefern stimmen Sie der folgenden Aussage zu? Während der VR Erfahrung haben die Duftstoffe dazu beigetragen, dass ich mich als Baum gefühlt habe

0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark

Ich habe die Controller-Rinde wahrgenommen

ja/nein

Falls ja, inwiefern stimmen Sie der folgenden Aussage zu?. Während der VR Erfahrung hat die Controller-Rinde dazu beigetragen, dass ich mich als Baum gefühlt habe

0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark

Ich habe die Bandage wahrgenommen

ja/nein

Falls ja, inwiefern stimmen Sie den folgenden Aussage zu? (0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark). Während der VR Erfahrung hat die Bandage dazu beigetragen, dass ich mich als Baum gefühlt habe

0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark

Ich habe die Gewichte wahrgenommen

ja/nein

Falls ja, inwiefern stimmen Sie den folgenden Aussage zu? Während der VR Erfahrung haben die Gewichte dazu beigetragen, dass ich mich als Baum gefühlt habe

0 = überhaupt nicht bis 10 = sehr stark

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Spangenberger, P., Sanchez-Holguin, K., Freytag, SC. (2025). Scent Box: Prototyping and Instructions for Olfactory Enhancement of VR-Experiences. In: Krüger, J.M., et al. Immersive Learning Research Network. iLRN 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2271. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80475-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80475-5_2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-80474-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-80475-5

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