Virtual Reality can deliver a truly immersive experience. It has come a long way since its inception and can now deliver sharp visuals with surround sound audio. However, there’s one frontier it has still not conquered, and that’s smell. Smell is an essential part of human experience, and its absence in the VR world leaves something to be desired.
That might change now, as a team of researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, in collaboration with Rakuten Mobile, has developed a wearable device that introduces smell to the VR world. It can blend up to eight different scents in real time and deliver them synchronized with your virtual environment.
How does it work?
The device is small enough to wear alongside a regular VR headset. It reads the virtual scene you are in and generates a matching scent by blending fragrance components in precise ratios. So if you are virtually strolling through a pine forest or a beachside market, your nose gets the memo, too.
The team used a combination of a microdispenser, an ultrasound atomizer, and a tiny pump to control the amount and moment of fragrance released. The researchers tested the device with virtual travel content, allowing users to visit different locations and smell the scents of those places.
Professor Takamichi Nakamoto, who led the research, explained the goal: “We wanted to develop a system that could reproduce complex scents quickly during immersive virtual experiences.”
The result is a scent that comes quickly and fades cleanly, without leaving you smelling as if you have spent hours inside a perfume store. Participants reported that the addition of smell made the virtual environment feel more real and present.
Can smelling VR worlds do more than entertain you?
Potentially, yes. We already see scent being used in 4DX cinema experience, so there’s no doubt that it can be used in virtual entertainment. Beyond gaming and entertainment, the technology could be genuinely useful for training simulations, fragrance product demonstrations, and even therapy for elderly patients, since smell is closely tied to memory.
The device was shown at multiple international conferences, and early reactions from attendees were positive. There is still a long road between a research prototype and something you can buy, but this is one of the more exciting steps toward truly multi-sensory VR experiences.
Google Maps has a long list of hidden (and sometimes, just underrated) features that help you navigate seamlessly. But I was not a big fan of using Google Maps for walking: that is, until I started using the right set of features that helped me navigate better.
Add layers to your map
See more information on the screen
Layers are an incredibly useful yet underrated feature that can be utilized for all modes of transport. These help add more details to your map beyond the default view, so you can plan your journey better.
To use layers, open your Google Maps app (Android, iPhone). Tap the layer icon on the upper right side (under your profile picture and nearby attractions options). You can switch your map type from default to satellite or terrain, and overlay your map with details, such as traffic, transit, biking, street view (perfect for walking), and 3D (Android)/raised buildings (iPhone) (for buildings). To turn off map details, go back to Layers and tap again on the details you want to disable.
In particular, adding a street view and 3D/raised buildings layer can help you gauge the terrain and get more information about the landscape, so you can avoid tricky paths and discover shortcuts.
Set up Live View
Just hold up your phone
A feature that can help you set out on walks with good navigation is Google Maps’ Live View. This lets you use augmented reality (AR) technology to see real-time navigation: beyond the directions you see on your map, you are able to see directions in your live view through your camera, overlaying instructions with your real view. This feature is very useful for travel and new areas, since it gives you navigational insights for walking that go beyond a 2D map.
To use Live View, search for a location on Google Maps, then tap “Directions.” Once the route appears, tap “Walk,” then tap “Live View” in the navigation options. You will be prompted to point your camera at things like buildings, stores, and signs around you, so Google Maps can analyze your surroundings and give you accurate directions.
Credit: Google
Download maps offline
Google Maps without an internet connection
Whether you’re on a hiking trip in a low-connectivity area or want offline maps for your favorite walking destinations, having specific map routes downloaded can be a great help. Google Maps lets you download maps to your device while you’re connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and use them when your device is offline.
For Android, open Google Maps and search for a specific place or location. In the placesheet, swipe right, then tap More > Download offline map > Download. For iPhone, search for a location on Google Maps, then, at the bottom of your screen, tap the name or address of the place. Tap More > Download offline map > Download.
After you download an area, use Google Maps as you normally would. If you go offline, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.
Enable Detailed Voice Guidance
Get better instructions
Voice guidance is a basic yet powerful navigation tool that can come in handy during walks in unfamiliar locations and can be used to ensure your journey is on the right path. To ensure guidance audio is enabled, go to your Google Maps profile (upper right corner), then tap Settings > Navigation > Sound and Voice. Here, tap “Unmute” on “Guidance Audio.”
Apart from this, you can also use Google Assistant to help you along your journey, asking questions about your destination, nearby sights, detours, additional stops, etc. To use this feature on iPhone, map a walking route to a destination, then tap the mic icon in the upper-right corner. For Android, you can also say “Hey Google” after mapping your destination to activate the assistant.
Voice guidance is handy for both new and old places, like when you’re running errands and need to navigate hands-free.
Add multiple stops
Keep your trip going
If you walk regularly to run errands, Google Maps has a simple yet effective feature that can help you plan your route in a better way. With Maps’ multiple stop feature, you can add several stops between your current and final destination to minimize any wasted time and unnecessary detours.
To add multiple stops on Google Maps, search for a destination, then tap “Directions.” Select the walking option, then click the three dots on top (next to “Your Location”), and tap “Edit Stops.” You can now add a stop by searching for it and tapping “Add Stop,” and swap the stops at your convenience. Repeat this process by tapping “Add Stops” until your route is complete, then tap “Start” to begin your journey.
You can add up to ten stops in a single route on both mobile and desktop, and use the journey for multiple modes (walking, driving, and cycling) except public transport and flights. I find this Google Maps feature to be an essential tool for travel to walkable cities, especially when I’m planning a route I am unfamiliar with.
More to discover
A new feature to keep an eye out for, especially if you use Google Maps for walking and cycling, is Google’s Gemini boost, which will allow you to navigate hands-free and get real-time information about your journey. This feature has been rolling out for both Android and iOS users.
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