Scratch-n-Sniff 'Old Book Smell' for E-Books
We're fans of good old tactility, feedback and honest to goodness sensation -- all commodities in today's increasingly digital world. That why it's always been hard for us to jump on the e-book bandwagon. Digital versions of books stored on computer-like readers lack any pages to turn or binding to break in. They certainly lack that musty aroma you soak in when cracking open an older book, which may be more important to the overall reading experience than most of us realize. After all, smell is the sense most closely tied our memory sensors.But now, e-textbook-peddler CafeScribe is working on a solution. Beginning in September, every e-textbook purchased through the newly-launched service will include a scratch-n-sniff sticker that smells like a musty old book. The gimmick is part of a slightly bizarre attempt to woo students and universities to its e-textbooks and away from traditional paper. In a survey of 600 college students, CafeScribe found that 43 percent identified smell as the thing they most love about books as physical objects, while 30 percent associated "mustiness" with the books they most loved.
Though certainly a marketing gimmick, this is an entertaining marriage of old and new technology, and one we'd love to see packaged with more of our digital goods. Imagine if a new song downloaded from iTunes smelled like the unwrapping a new cassette tape?
From Engadget
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jewelcorporation @ Aug 24th 2007 10:03PM
Don't you just love technology? Gotta appreciate it!
garland gem @ Aug 24th 2007 10:25PM
This is a cute idea.
Very creative.
mrdickieweed @ Aug 25th 2007 11:49AM
The new DVD's of movies for home play are going to come this winter with a scratch-n-sniff sticker that smells like a popcorn fart...
kathy @ Aug 25th 2007 12:37PM
I love the Idea. Its sure to be a hit.
Susi @ Aug 26th 2007 1:45PM
OMG.....that is the reason I don't go to the library; I can't stand that smell. I can only read new books.
Pat @ Aug 26th 2007 6:54PM
Yikes! I am highly allergic to that old book mustiness. My fingers swell and my nose blocks up. I do use an ebook to read, but honestly most of my favorite authors are not available on it. Kind of forces me to try new authors... I don't think I would be interested in the scratch and sniff sticker.
Susan Edwards @ Aug 26th 2007 8:32PM
Old book smell has always been a laxative for me! Everytime I go to the library I need to take a crap...So when "stopped up", I take an old book to the Jane with me...Love this technology!
Susan @ Aug 26th 2007 10:09PM
Come on
Get real!
Andy @ Aug 26th 2007 10:37PM
Let's get that old comic book smell and then you got it made.