Imagining a Prototype

During our initial brainstorming sessions, our team was captivated by the underexplored potential of the sense of scent, both scientifically and culturally. We were enchanted by the hidden superpower of scent, especially given the extraordinary olfactory capabilities of certain species like dogs, which can detect scents with remarkable accuracy. This fascination drove us to delve deeper into how enhancing the human sense of smell could unlock new dimensions of perception and interaction.

When deciding whether our device should be wearable or stationary, we recognized that most current machine olfaction devices are not wearables. We were struck by the idea that something augmenting your sense of smell should not be so far-removed from our biology. To reconcile this, we opted for a wearable design, specifically a nose wearable, inspired by nature’s own olfactory systems. This approach aligns more closely with the natural integration of scent detection, enhancing the user’s experience in a more intuitive and biologically harmonious way.

Next, we spoke with the expert from EPFL, who carefully evaluated our proposed device. He pointed out that using bacteria would pose significant challenges in maintaining a stable and safe system. However, he noted that the choice between cellular and cell-free biosensors was less critical, as the system would need to replicate the mucus-olfactory neuron process to dissolve volatile molecules. He recommended we explore Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs), bio-based sensors that have shown promise in detecting volatile compounds. This advice steered us towards a more feasible and reliable approach for our device.

After that, we spoke with Dr. Andreas Mershin, founder of OsmoCosm, who was genuinely excited about the project. Our conversation primarily focused on the larger context, particularly the bioethics of such devices. We discussed potential legislation around smell detection, the ways people might subvert this technology through perfumes or microbiome design, and whether such a device should even be publicly available. This dialogue highlighted the complex ethical and societal implications of our project, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and regulation.

Then we spoke with Dr. Joseph Azzarelli, CEO of Azztek One and a specialist in bioelectronic sensors. He shared insights into the groundbreaking technologies currently being developed in this field, including nanospheres and nanodiscs. Given that his company was also working on a similar product, though not a wearable, he provided valuable feedback on our product design. Following this conversation, we decided to use G-Protein Coupled Receptors placed on graphene tubes as the core of our olfactory chip. This choice leveraged the advanced technology while ensuring the sensitivity and specificity needed for our device.

Lastly, we spoke with Tara Scudder, an anosmic individual who actively raises awareness about her condition and advocates for consideration by electronic nose companies. She provided extensive feedback on how she, as an anosmic person, would feel if sensory experiences were imposed on her. Surprisingly, she expressed a preference for an associative link to scents, akin to having closed captions for what’s happening around her. Taking her feedback to heart, we decided to create a synesthesia-like experience instead of directly stimulating the emotional or olfactory neurons. We also incorporated her insights on product comfort into our final design for “nos.”