The smell of the Web

What would the Web smell like if it had a scent? Not exactly the a subject one ponders on a daily basis, but an intriguing idea none-the-less.

Indeed, behind the scenes most of the Web's hero's do little to project the fragrant and attractive aroma of cut grass and invigoration. Although Steve Job's Apple could be indication of potential fragrant muse in this direction. Imagine everytime you opened your ibook and the experience was met with not only a happy mac icon, but Apple fragrance.

Late in the 1990s it seemed a good idea to promote the concept of a smellivision. Farming Today was particuarly popular and represnted a potential heady mix of countrywide smells destined for city based homes. Until it was realised that this also meant the likes of Jeremy Kyle would become more obnoxious. Not only to eyes and ears, but also to the nose.

As a new interactive feature the Scratch and Sniff Web.0 could be the future. Instead of 'log in' we could have 'sniff in' - the recognition of a distinctive scent that allows open access to our personal content.

My fragrance would be 'fresh cut grass', when I smell freshly cut grass I get this air of clarity. It wakes me up and invigorates. And is a damn sight more exciting than typing in the same characters across numerous social media platforms as a passcode. Why not smell your way through the Web? Facebook access could be mediated by your perfume or cologne, Twitter a show-y scent, the kind that is reminiscent of those scenes from shopping malls as counter girls and guys ATTACK! wrists with the latest Brand Beckham gym sock distinction.

Hmmm… I'm not sure what YouTube would smell like - I fear for potential loo roll, or other tube based allusions. However, I would be encouraged to log onto a restaurant review site to stimulate appetite. Just maybe not MacDonald's...

Other notables are various web consumer opportunities, log onto Amazon for that fresh book smell, eBay for the aroma of old socks, Flickr to recreate days at the beach.

The next step is to replicate taste, a screen lick concept if you will.