I can see the future...
Fart apps will now do more than make silly noises...
A new prototype iPhone peripheral pumps out smells based on user interaction, allowing devs to add an aromatic dimension to games and messaging as long as users keep their reservoir stocked. ChatPerf slips onto the bottom of an iPhone and comes with an SDK allowing anyone to scent-enable their application. Some variation in …
I don't need a fart app to make a rip roaring sound or smell... I can even change the tone of the sound and the smell, garlicky, chinese takeaway or my favourite, beefy after a Sunday lunch.
This thing is pointless and I doubt they will become millionaires with it, actually second thoughts there may be enough idiots in the world that will buy it.
I remember one drunken conversation down the pub to do with smells being transmitted down the phone. The majority of smells would be someone farting down the phone. So why not just detect the sound of a fart and slide the lid off a box containing a turd. Would make a cheap solution to the problem.
"Pointless tech that will fail.
Just like 3D TV."
IMO - and, I assume, yours - 3D TV is a great big pile of steaming elephant output.
However, I don't think it's fair to say that it has (or will) fail. If anything, I think it's quite (annoyingly) successful. A lot of people I know now have 3D TVs and rave about them, and most of those who don't seem to be thinking of a 3D TV when they replace their current set - and even those that aren't may end up with one anyway. All of which makes 3D TV sound rather successful.
This silly device, however? EPIC FAIL!
This will fail simply because it relies on constant refills to work.
If phone users couldn't be bothered to be constantly switching batteries for their phones to work (early battery powered phones without recharge were of very limited use), why will they be bothered to keep constantly purchasing, storing, refilling and switching smells?
I predict a few curious adopters, single use until the smells run dry, and then left in the cupboard with the other "was fun for a while" junk.
I remember taking the nipper to see a film, I think it was "Spy Kids 3D" or something like that, and they handed out scratch and sniff cards to be used during the film. While it added nothing to the movie, it was fun seeing everyone in the audience suddenly jump and frantically scratch & sniff their cards when the on-screen prompts appeared.
It's a shame all smells can't be synthesised from a few elementals, but as molecule 'handedness' affects whether you smell mint or lemon, the software control on this will be limited to on/off, or selecting one of several premixes.
And as I recall from scratch'n'sniff, there are only half a dozen or so reliable and stable long-term scent compounds meaning all the games would need to involve cut grass, synthetic roses, chocolate, etc