So, scratch-n-sniff ham radio? Well, no -- or maybe, if you use your imagination. What if we had a scent modem? Think about it... I mean, we already have modems that convert analog audio to digital audio and back to analog audio at the other end of the transmission. A scent modem would convert 'analog' scents to digital scent files and back to scents at the other end! I once toured a commercial lab that created scents for various uses. They could create practically any scent. They had a chemical formula for each one. Mix the right combination of chemicals and sniff...root beer, bubble gum, or steak on the barbie! So, all we need is a device, a scent modem, with a multi-scent replaceable cartridge just like in an ink jet printer. Somebody get working on that, please.
Besides the smell of the rag chewer's overheated PC board in his HT, while running full power, what could scratch-n-sniff do for ham radio? Picture a field day exercise where hams set up their equipment and operate out in the open for a day or a weekend. As you sit in your shack and make contact with this outdoor field location wouldn't it be great to smell the fresh cut grass under the antenna farm or the Mountain Laurel and wild flowers around the edge of the field. And can't you just smell those burgers and sausage & peppers cooking on the grill. Those aromas are as much a part of a field day exercise as the hum of the transmitters and amps and the chatter of the operators around the tent. What a contact that would be -- and without the flies and mosquitoes!
Now, how about that contact you'd like to make with one of those south sea island DXpeditions. Can you picture that little island with it's white sand, a couple of tents for sleeping and the gear, and an antenna or two strung between a couple of palm trees laden with tasty coconuts? When you've finally made it through the pile-up, wouldn't it be nice to smell that wonderful salt sea air and be able to sniff the coconut milk from a freshly cracked coconut the operator is sipping through a straw as he confirms your call sign and report? Now that would be a contact to remember -- and without that unwelcome deposit on your head by a passing sea gull.
Or, what about that contest contact where the operator on the other end is sitting in his shack in his underwear and hasn't showered in forty-eight hours -- well, maybe I'll pass on that one.
Well, this has been fun. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. So, somebody get working on that scent modem thingy. I'll buy one!
Until next time...
73 OM
DE WA2KKG
1 comment:
Just to appease those small minds who would say that we don't have the transceiver technology to send and receive digital files to a south sea island location, I'll comment on my own blog post.
Let's start by mentioning packet, PSK, and echolink. If that doesn't solve your problem, as we speak Icom is probably already working on an HF radio with D-Star capabilities. In the meantime, maybe a lucky contact on VHF with some temperature ducting will do the trick. Any other ideas out there? Chime in! ;)
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