Phone Device That ‘Sends’ Smells Could Help Treat Alzheimer’s

Researchers are developing a mobile device called “oPhone” that stores and emits scent in response to a text message; they believe that the device could be used to help treat Alzheimer’s disease and stress or mental disorders because research indicates that smell has a strong association with memories. On July 10, 2014, the oPhone device will be released for a beta test in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

The physical oPhone does not work like a normal cell phone, as it cannot transmit or receive sounds. It is a cylindrically-shaped device that contains a set of disposable “oChips,” which . . .