Whiff: An Exploratory Framework for Olfactory Productivity Interfaces

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. We present a pilot study that aims to illustrate whether exposure to certain scents can increase motivation to complete a task. This paper also discusses the underlying causes of procrastination and how scent could be used to motivate and overcome these hurdles. Finally, we present Whiff, a system and design of 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. The study and the olfactory productivity interface presented is preliminary, the paper offers a framework for further investigation of such systems and applications.