Engage Your Senses
Engage Your Senses is an interactive drawing and olfactory experience intended to aid the colorblind. For this project, we decided to make up for a colorblind person’s inability to see color by releasing certain smells based on the color selected. For this project, we wanted to combine multiple senses so that one could take the place of another for those who lack certain senses, and for those who have all their senses, they can have a more unique experience. In addition to reaching people’s different senses, we decided to add the interactive aspect of a drawing tablet so that users could do more than just select a certain color and smell an associated fragrance. This fit my definition of interaction since the user draws on the tablet and then a smell is released as a result.
Specifically, our project will have two main elements – a tablet running processing and a set of boxes that use Arduino servo motors to open up. On the tablet, we will create a processing program where the user can use their finger to select from a list of colors and draw. When certain colors are selected and used to draw, this triggers an Arduino to open one of the boxes which contain a certain scent – releasing the scent. In order to create this, we will first need to create a basic drawing program in processing, then map it to a servo motor to make sure that the two work together. Next, we will create the boxes themselves through laser cutting and 3D printing. Then, we will finish the processing program so it works perfectly and attach the motors to the boxes. Our final step will be to finish the fabrication of the boxes and/or any other items/facades we decide to make in order to make the project look nice. One point that came up in our project proposal presentation was the need for a cleanser or else the user’s sense of smell will become clouded after just a few smells. We plan to work around this problem by relating the smell of coffee whenever the user erases the screen which will cleanse their sense of smell. To make sure that users are happy with our project, we will have to take time during user testing sessions to make sure that every scent matches everyone’s perception of the associated colors.
For this project, our group was inspired by Ernesto Neto’s olfactory art exhibition “While Nothing Happens”. This piece utilized smell by placing various spices in hanging lycra around the gallery. When users walk through the exhibit, they interact with the different lycra, releasing the unique smells contained inside. From Neto’s work, we took the intersection between touch and interaction – wherein our work the user draws to produce smells. This combination satisfies my definition of interaction since there are multiple distinct actors and exchanges taking place. This project is significant to multiple people in multiple ways. First, it aids the colorblind in experiencing color. In addition, it gives people who can see color a new way of experiencing the act of drawing. Essentially this project combines two different things that already exist – a drawing tablet and a smelling booth. I think that later projects could also introduce more senses, most likely sound, to give the meaning of interaction even more depth.