Join us for Ideathon
The Conference and the Ideathon
‘Osmocosm’ is the first annual olfaction technology conference at MIT - which will happen (virtually in 2021) on October 28-30.
In advance and during the conference, we invite artists, designers, engineers and scientists to join the Scent Ideathon. Ideas and works created during Ideathon will be displayed on the ‘osmocosm’ website; some will be selected for inclusion during the conference in October.
The subject will be the opportunities presented by the new natural scent detecting technology revolution with known and as yet unknown capabilities to change our world. During the Ideathon you will be invited to speculate, ask questions and produce experimental artwork; whatever direction you wish to take. The goal of our joint exploration will be to understand and evaluate olfaction tools at the intersection of the next generation technology trends of AI, blockchain, and precision medicine.
Subject and its Importance
The olfaction revolution is around the corner. The technology is here, we need to extend our anticipation of what it may affect when in use. Everything from day to day detection of disease, emotion and certain thought patterns may be affected.
Inspired by the abilities of for example ‘Medical Detection Dogs’ in Milton Keynes UK, to detect cancers, pre-cancerous conditions, prostate cancer, Covid and the many other indicative scents of disease and conditions given off by the body, the way the oldest of the senses functions, will be transitioning to personal technological devices on a mass scale. Until now this has resulted in stand alone, or specific function devices. Now however it will become a reality that multi-detection is possible 24/7 within your phone.
We need to think not only how we will use this technology, but also what we will do with the data generated, and make sure that we will own our scent data.
Ideathon version 1
The next step is to conduct the Ideathon in your school. The format proposed is a 3 day event run on your own terms at your institution. It is up to you what road you will take, what approach you can implement and what issues you will address with your group. Any work, be it a question, a scenario, a cartoon or an artwork for example will be included on our website, and joint sessions will be held throughout the days.
We suggest choosing a 3 days format. But you can do a shorter or longer version of the Ideathon before the conference.
1st day- Briefing session for students (around 2-3 hours)
During a briefing session students will be provided with insights and information regarding the technology. The briefing will take around 1-1,5 hour.
2nd day- Expand ideas
3d day- Work on ideas and upload them electronically
You may approach the Ideathon according to the character of the program you are teaching (or do something completely opposite if you wish). For example if you see a longer period
We would like you to think about the future of scent technology.
How is it going to impact our future
What are the imaginable and unimaginable applications
How the world would look like if in every phone could read and analyse the scent molecules
What are the bright and promising sides
What and how can it go wrong?
What can we do to shape the scent of the future for the better.
Possible formats/pathways:
Exploration of the idea how the world will change/look like when olfaction technology will be ubiquitous. How will it change the way we live, interact, operate? Imagine how the omnipresence of cameras in the phones will affect us.
Thinking of and designing apps for mobile phones, which have the functionality to analyze scent. (Graphic design, UX/UI). You can also think about designing those functionalities for the portable devices of the future. Imagine the app for current phones, imagine the interface of the app integrated with our bodies.
Thinking about ethical implications of the ability to read and analyse the smells.
Thinking about how olfaction technology can shape, change the way we live in the cities.
All above are only suggestions and they are open to your input and creativity, feel free to rephrase, rearrange and rethink our guidelines.
Basically you can do anything you want.
Organization of the students work
Students can work individually or in groups. Depending on the current pandemic situation, work can happen remotely or in person.
What happens next
After completing the Ideathon we would ask all the participants to send us the works/projects. Please do it as soon as possible after completion of the Ideathon.
All of the works will be displayed on our webpage in the gallery section, so the display of the projects should be adjusted accordingly.
It is hard right now for us. We would also like to ask you to choose the project which you think is the best within your class. This project will be displayed and discussed during one of the conference sessions.
Technical requirements:
1 minute video (link to uploaded video) and up to 5 images
summary- short description (up to 200 words)
longer description (up to 800 words)
Students/participants of the Ideathon are also invited to formulate a simple question regarding the olfaction.
Ideathon version 2
You can also come and join us only for Ideating during the conference, with your University, or as an individual or a group. Your work will be created during the conference.
All of the works will be included on our website.
If you want to share with us your Ideation before the conference please send us links to your google drive to the following address: osmocosmteam@gmail.com