A groundbreaking device that prints scents

Forget 3D printers. The future looks set for printing scents directly onto paper. Deliciously scented cookbooks are coming... Zhu Jing Xuan's printer opens the door to unprecedented communication. This interactive and innovative machine allows users to exchange information by engaging a previously untapped sense of smell . The futuristic printer is based on an electronic nose system. The sensor is equipped with samples to generate and characterize odors. The electronic nose analyzes food odors and then mimics them by mixing aromatic inks placed in the printer. The device transfers the mixed odors to a special sticker made of photographic paper. The scent is released from the printed postcard after the transparent tape is removed. The idea originated with a student from the Art Design Institute of Donghua University. She poured her love of good food and travel into the project. With this handy printer, simply take a photo of a local dish, print it out, and send it to friends as a postcard. The printer was created for the Sony Student Design Workshop 2012, where many talented students presented their creative and technologically innovative ideas. Sony has not ruled out commercializing the best ideas in the future.