Whiff

Challenge

Existing productivity and procrastination aids place heavy responsibility on the user to remain motivated and rely much too heavily on their conscious will and self-restraint. Meanwhile, olfaction has been explored as a vehicle for cognitive behavior modulation and its influence on cognition has been demonstrated. However, evidence of an association between scent and productivity has not previously been presented.

Outcome

Whiff, an olfactory interface for motivation and productivity. Whiff is a three-part system consisting of a personalization quiz, a mobile interface, and a modular, wi-fi-enabled, and remote control-capable device allowing users to schedule olfactory stimulation and synchronize the scent release with their schedules and activities.

Role: Researcher, DataViz

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