| Smell-O-Vision has arrived! Do you have your | | | | that might come waddling my way! |
| virtual reality helmet handy and are you ready for | | | | So, Smell-O-Vision is here, and it should be |
| the experiences you are about to have? Let's see | | | | available in 5 years, the scientists tell us, at a cost |
| what the Brits have cooked up for us! | | | | of roughly $2,200.00 USD. |
| British scientists at York and Warwick Universities | | | | In all seriousness, the British scientists believe that |
| have come up with a virtual reality helmet that, | | | | this virtual reality helmet, once refined, will be |
| they say, can simulate all 5 of the human senses | | | | advantageous to education, business and families |
| that it takes to create a real virtual image: taste, | | | | the world over. Conference calls will seem like |
| feeling, sight, smell and sound. In fact, they have | | | | having a meeting in the same room, even though |
| renamed their version of virtual reality technology, | | | | participants might be on different continents. |
| Real Virtuality. | | | | Imagine seeing and talking to your grandparents, |
| Most VR helmets are designed to be lighter in | | | | who are clear across the country, and being able |
| weight and less obtrusive, so as not to interfere | | | | to smell your grandmother's perfume? It will be |
| with the simulated environment of virtual reality. | | | | as though they were right there with you in your |
| But the monster helmet the Brit scientists have | | | | living room. And what about ancient history? |
| developed looks like it belongs on a space suit. | | | | School children would be able to utilize the VR |
| The prototype version of the virtual reality | | | | helmet to visit ancient Rome or other historical |
| helmet is large, with a serious, front-mounted, | | | | places. |
| surround-screen that is high definition in its output, | | | | I am reminded of the movie, Brainstorm. In this |
| producing images 30 times brighter or darker than | | | | 1983 movie, Christopher Walken's character is a |
| the average television. A fan and heating system | | | | scientist, right on the verge of finalizing such a |
| is installed to create the sense of heat and | | | | virtual reality helmet. The consequences it has for |
| humidity or cooling breezes. | | | | military applications are, of course, scary, and that |
| This wireless system communicates with a | | | | becomes the plot of the movie. But what about |
| computer to bring reality to this virtual reality | | | | being able to walk along the Champs Elysees with |
| helmet. Besides the usual sight and auditory | | | | your cousin and experience the sidewalk cafes of |
| systems, the helmet comes equipped with a | | | | France-in realtime-and all from the comfort of |
| system to spray flavours to taste into the mouth | | | | your living room. That time is almost here! |
| of the user and a scent dispenser to envelope | | | | The virtual reality helmet may look a bit |
| the user in scents that would accompany | | | | cumbersome now, but I'll bet, in 5 years, they will |
| whatever is being experienced. Personally, I | | | | have figured out how to streamline and modify it |
| wouldn't mind the floral scent of an Alpine | | | | so that it won't look like you want to be an |
| meadow, but I wouldn't care about the skunk | | | | astronaut when you grow up. |