Soon, your VR headset will enable you to experience scents from the virtual world.

      Your nose is about to receive a VR enhancement, and it smells incredible.

      Virtual Reality offers an exceptionally immersive experience. It has evolved significantly since its early days, providing crisp visuals paired with surround sound audio. However, one aspect remains uncharted territory: the sense of smell. Smell is a crucial component of human experience, and its absence in the VR realm creates a noticeable gap.

      This may soon change, as a team at the Institute of Science Tokyo, in partnership with Rakuten Mobile, has created a wearable device that integrates scent into the VR environment. This device can combine up to eight different fragrances in real time, delivering them in sync with your virtual surroundings.

      How does it function?

      The device is compact enough to be worn with a standard VR headset. It analyzes the virtual environment you are exploring and produces a corresponding scent by mixing fragrance components in exact ratios. So, if you're virtually wandering through a pine forest or a seaside market, your nose will be aware as well.

      The team employed a mix of a microdispenser, an ultrasound atomizer, and a small pump to regulate the quantity and timing of the fragrance release. They tested the device with immersive travel experiences, which allowed users to explore various locations and experience the associated scents.

      Professor Takamichi Nakamoto, the lead researcher, stated, “Our aim was to create a system capable of swiftly recreating complex scents during immersive virtual experiences.”

      The outcome is a scent that emerges quickly and dissipates seamlessly, without leaving a lingering aroma as if you had spent hours in a perfume shop. Participants indicated that the inclusion of smell enhanced the realism and presence of the virtual environment.

      Could smelling VR worlds serve a purpose beyond entertainment?

      Possibly, yes. We already observe the use of scent in 4DX cinema experiences, indicating its potential for virtual entertainment. Beyond gaming, this technology could prove valuable for training simulations, fragrance product showcases, and even therapeutic applications for elderly patients, as smell is closely linked with memory.

      The device has been presented at various international conferences, and initial feedback from attendees has been positive. While there remains considerable progress to be made from a research prototype to a consumer product, this represents one of the most exciting advancements toward truly multi-sensory VR experiences.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with more than seven years of experience in the consumer technology field.

      DJI’s inaugural 360° drone features 8K video recording and an astonishingly long transmission range.

      From round-the-clock obstacle sensing to 42 GB of onboard storage, the Avata 360 exemplifies DJI's commitment to setting higher standards for the industry.

      DJI has officially entered the 360° drone market with the launch of the Avata 360. This is the company’s first fully immersive FPV drone and a direct competitor to the Antigravity A1, which is developed by a brand incubated by Insta360. It seems the drone market has just become more thrilling.

      What makes the Avata 360 worth exploring?

      I successfully transferred all my conversations from other AI applications to Gemini — and it operates seamlessly.

      You know that moment when AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude suddenly derail mid-conversation and start misinterpreting things as if they’re absolutely convinced they’re correct? It’s equally amusing and exasperating. My usual reaction is to switch between applications, hoping one of them will understand. The real inconvenience is having to start from scratch every time, as if I’m trapped in a cycle of recounting my life story to different AIs, one after another.

      Now, with Gemini, I can switch from other AI apps without having to reset the conversation. At last, the Google gods have favored us. I tried it out with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and swift it was.

      Google is expanding Search Live globally, incorporating voice and camera AI.

      This feature is now accessible in over 200 countries, with multilingual support.

      Google is making a significant leap towards transforming Search into a comprehensive AI assistant. The company has officially launched Search Live worldwide, making this functionality available in more than 200 nations and regions, along with support for numerous languages.