{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/16788"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/16788","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Symbolic olfactory display","abstract":"This thesis explores the problems and possibilities of computer-controlled scent output. I begin with a thorough literature review of how we smell and how scents are categorized. I look at applications of aroma through the ages, with particular emphasis on the role of scent in information display in a variety of media. I then present and discuss several projects I have built to explore the use of computer-controlled olfactory display, and some pilot studies of issues related to such display. I quantify human physical limitations on olfactory input, and conclude that olfactory display must rely on differences between smells, and not differences in intensity of the same smell. I propose a theoretical framework for scent in human-computer interactions, and develop concepts of olfactory icons and 'smicons'. I further conclude that scent is better suited for display slowly changing, continuous information than discrete events. I conclude with my predictions for the prospects of symbolic, computer-controlled, olfactory display.","abstract_html":"This thesis explores the problems and possibilities of computer-controlled scent output. I begin with a thorough literature review of how we smell and how scents are categorized. I look at applications of aroma through the ages, with particular emphasis on the role of scent in information display in a variety of media. I then present and discuss several projects I have built to explore the use of computer-controlled olfactory display, and some pilot studies of issues related to such display. I quantify human physical limitations on olfactory input, and conclude that olfactory display must rely on differences between smells, and not differences in intensity of the same smell. I propose a theoretical framework for scent in human-computer interactions, and develop concepts of olfactory icons and 'smicons'. I further conclude that scent is better suited for display slowly changing, continuous information than discrete events. I conclude with my predictions for the prospects of symbolic, computer-controlled, olfactory display.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kaye, Joseph Nathaniel, 1977-"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Michael J. Hawley."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2001,"date_issued":"2001","date_published":"2001","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:50Z","subjects":["Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16788","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Michael J. Hawley."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kaye, Joseph Nathaniel, 1977-"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2005-05-19T14:35:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2005-05-19T14:35:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2001"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16788"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2001.","Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-143).","This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis explores the problems and possibilities of computer-controlled scent output. I begin with a thorough literature review of how we smell and how scents are categorized. I look at applications of aroma through the ages, with particular emphasis on the role of scent in information display in a variety of media. I then present and discuss several projects I have built to explore the use of computer-controlled olfactory display, and some pilot studies of issues related to such display. I quantify human physical limitations on olfactory input, and conclude that olfactory display must rely on differences between smells, and not differences in intensity of the same smell. I propose a theoretical framework for scent in human-computer interactions, and develop concepts of olfactory icons and 'smicons'. I further conclude that scent is better suited for display slowly changing, continuous information than discrete events. I conclude with my predictions for the prospects of symbolic, computer-controlled, olfactory display."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Symbolic olfactory display"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Michael J. Hawley."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."],"dc:creator":["Kaye, Joseph Nathaniel, 1977-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2005-05-19T14:35:42Z"],"dc:date.available":["2005-05-19T14:35:42Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2001"],"dc:description":["Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2001.","Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-143).","This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections."],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis explores the problems and possibilities of computer-controlled scent output. I begin with a thorough literature review of how we smell and how scents are categorized. I look at applications of aroma through the ages, with particular emphasis on the role of scent in information display in a variety of media. I then present and discuss several projects I have built to explore the use of computer-controlled olfactory display, and some pilot studies of issues related to such display. I quantify human physical limitations on olfactory input, and conclude that olfactory display must rely on differences between smells, and not differences in intensity of the same smell. I propose a theoretical framework for scent in human-computer interactions, and develop concepts of olfactory icons and 'smicons'. I further conclude that scent is better suited for display slowly changing, continuous information than discrete events. I conclude with my predictions for the prospects of symbolic, computer-controlled, olfactory display."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16788"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences."],"dc:title":["Symbolic olfactory display"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:50Z"}