Image Display System Using Bamboo-blind
Type Screen that Can Discharge Smell
Keisuke Tomono, Rei Shu, Mana Tanaka and Akira Tomono
Department of Information Media Technology, School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering,
Tokai University, 2-3-23 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8619 Japan
Keywords: Image Display, Smell, Current of Air, Sense of Touch, Realistic Sensation, Virtual Reality.
Abstract: In order to promote the realistic sensations of visuals, a display system, in which smell along with air was
discharged through screen to a viewer, was invented. A bamboo-blind screen where thin rods and spaces
were arranged in the vertical direction was used. For the alley type screen, the visuals were displayed using
projectors. Both airflow and scent generators were attached on the back of the screen. This work insinuated
the following details; the direction of airflow was controlled by installing blades functions and smell was
able to be directed and oozed toward expected locations. Also, if the screen was large enough and an
animated series of visuals was presented, the alley type of display enabled to remain the high quality of
visuals. Applications to digital signage and large-screen virtual game etc. can be expected.
1 INTRODUCTION
A new piece of technology called a multimodal
interface, which is different from the conventional
audio visual interface, has recently been developed
for the purposes of clarifying human perceptual
mechanisms, enhancing realistic sensation and many
other reasons (Hirota et al., 2011; Onojima et al.,
2011; Furuya et al., 2011). Because sense of smell is
one of the senses that acts directly on memory and
emotion, the multimedia with olfactory information
added to audio and visual information is called
KANSEI Multi-Media and the detection,
regeneration, transmission and application of scent
has been studied (Nakamoto et al.,2012).
Furthermore, the breeze-feeling sense has also been
focused on as a media that enhances realistic
sensation, and the methods of presenting it and its
psychological effects have also been researched
(Yanagida, 2013; Ueoka et al., 2013). Sawada et al.
proposed the interface that brought the new
communication medium of "wind" into the
bidirectional interaction between the virtual
environment and the real environment by integrating
the graphic presentation with the input and output of
wind on a special screen (Sawada et al., 2008). Also,
Matsuura et al. proposed the system that generated
an airflow directed toward the user from a certain
position on the screen by making the wind that rose
from four fans collide on the screen (Matsukura et
al., 2012).
The author et al. have been studying a system
that collaboratively displays images and scents
called KANSEI Multi-Media Display (KMMD) and
its psychological effects for the purposes of applying
it to digital signage and virtual reality. Thus far, the
author et al. have proposed a display that can
collaboratively present images and scents by using a
special screen through which air can flow, and
evaluated the enhancement of memory, the effect of
visual attraction and realistic sensations caused by
the images with scent (Tomono A., 2008; Tomono
K., 2011; Tomono A., 2010).
In this field, in order to present scent in a way to
be linked with image, it is necessary to block of
scent near the nasal cavities, not spread the scent.
This can effectively make users perceive the scent
with only a small amount of scent, so that it is also
possible to switch the scent in accordance with the
image. To measure this purpose, various devices
have been researched, such as: a device that confines
the scent in a vortex ring and sends it to the users
using an air gun (Yanagida et al., 2004), one that
evaporates the scent and sprays it through a fine
nozzle (Kim et al., 2011), and one that generates a
weak airflow and discharges the scent to its users in
a pulse-like way (Kadowaki, et. al, 2007). In order to
248
Tomono K., Shu R., Tanaka M. and Tomono A..
Image Display System Using Bamboo-blind Type Screen that Can Discharge Smell.
DOI: 10.5220/0005021802480254
In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia Applications (SIGMAP-2014), pages 248-254
ISBN: 978-989-758-046-8
Copyright
c
2014 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)
generate scent and present it to users at a place
separate from the device, certain measures to
generate air current are needed, and in order to
present the scent with the movement of the users,
technology to control the direction of the airflow is
required.
Therefore, the purpose of this research was to
propose a KMMD that can discharge air and scent in
a predetermined direction through a screen with
small holes and gaps and verify the validity of the
principle by a trial device. Firstly, the significance of
the development of the KMMD was described and
the experiment of controlling airflow using a
bamboo blind-type screen and a blade mechanism
was explained. The airflow velocities were measured
at various observing places and the smell sensory
properties were evaluated. Furthermore, the image
quality projected on a bamboo blind-type screen was
discussed.
2 INTEGRATED SYSTEM
PRESENTING IMAGE, SCENT
AND AIRFLOW
Fig. 1 shows the concept of the KMMD. As shown
in Fig. 1 (a), generally in a conventional system
presenting images together with scent, a scent
generating device is installed near the display and
both devices are controlled in accordance with the
contents (Sakaino, 2008). However, the problem is
that the available space to install a large scent
generating device is constrained and it stands out, so
that the operator cannot be concentrated in
projecting image. In the case where the display is
large-sized, if the scent generating device is installed
near the display, the distance between the device and
the users becomes too large, and it is difficult to
control sending the scent to the users.
On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 1 (b), the
KMMD has a screen with small holes and gaps and
the devices generating airflow and scent are
arranged behind the screen. This system has the
following characteristics:
(1) The scent generating device does not stand out
in order for this system to be less
psychologically oppressive.
(2) Because the scent generating device can be
installed anywhere behind the screen, it is
possible to send scents and breezes from areas
close to the users.
(3) Because the scent can be discharged from the
place where the image is displayed, a
collaborated expression of image and scent is
possible.
(4) It is possible, in principle, to present the scent
of the object on the screen which the users are
viewing if a monitor camera is installed to
detect the positions and gazes of users.
There are two structures as display devices, such
as using a spontaneous light emission element (LED
or EL) and using a projector screen (Tomono K,
2013). The latter one is explained here.
Figure 1: Concept of KMMD that collaboratively displays
image, smell, and wind.
3 KMMD USING BAMBOO
BLIND-TYPE SCREEN
Due to the screen through which the airflow passes
and the airflow direction control mechanism, a trial
device was produced in order to realize the concept
of the KMMD in the previous chapter. Fig 2 shows
the design specification and Fig. 3 shows the
experiment system manufactured by way of trial.
3.1 Bamboo Blind-type Screen
In order to let the airflow pass easily in a transverse
direction on the display screen, the screen consists of
many elongated rod-shaped display parts piled up in
a longitudinal direction so that the long axis
becomes horizontal with gaps between the rods. The
display parts can be structured by spontaneous light
emission elements, such as LED and ED, being
arranged in a row. However, in this paper, in order
to easily confirm the principle, bamboo sticks
painted with white paint were used as display parts.
These sticks were arranged in a vertical direction
and used as a projector screen. The specifications of
the screen used in the experiment are shown in Fig.
3 (b). Fig. 3 (a) shows the bamboo blind-type screen
before it was painted with white paint.
ImageDisplaySystemUsingBamboo-blindTypeScreenthatCanDischargeSmell
249
Figure 2: Design of KMMD using bamboo blind type
screen.
3.2 Airflow Direction Control
Mechanism Using Rotary Blades
As shown in Fig. 2, in order to control the direction
of horizontal airflow, 18 blades (16 cm in length and
6 cm in width) were set in a vertical direction so that
they were perpendicular to the gaps of the screen,
and the rotation axes of blades were arranged so that
they contacted the screen. It was expected that the
airflow in the box would be discharged from the
gaps in the predetermined direction when the plural
blades rotated in a coordinated manner. A servo
motor for radio control was used to rotate the blades.
In order to increase atmospheric pressure behind
the screen, a box (380 cm in width, 180 cm in length
and 223 cm in depth) was installed in a way that it
surrounded the blade mechanism, and a blower
(SHOWA DENKI CO.: SF-75-R3A3) was placed
behind the box through a duct (10 cm in diameter).
The maximum flow rate was 8m
3
/min. and the
maximum pressure was 0.55 kPa. The reason why
the depth of the box for increasing atmospheric
pressure was long is as follows: The diameter of the
airflow outlet of the blower was small at 10 cm and
the pressure at the time of airflow emission was not
stable, so it was contrived to adjust the airflow while
passing through the long box and make it even just
before the blades. If it is possible to use a blower
with a large airflow outlet in the future, that part will
become more compact.
The bamboo blind-type screen was fixed at the
front surface of the airflow direction control
mechanism using a double-faced adhesive type, as
shown in Fig. 3 (c). The scent was evaporated and
arranged so that it could be discharged through the
gaps of the bamboo blind-type screen as needed,
using a collaborated air pump and nozzle.
Figure 3: Experimental system of KMMD using bamboo
blind type screen.
SIGMAP2014-InternationalConferenceonSignalProcessingandMultimediaApplications
250
3.3 Evaluation of Airflow Direction
Characteristics
3.3.1 Experimental Method
Under the environment in Fig. 3, when the angle of
the blades was varied within the range of 0 degrees
to ± 45 degrees, the wind velocities at
predetermined places were measured using a hot-
wire anemometer (RoHS, DT-8880). The
measurement locations were defined with angles and
distances from the center of the screen as the first
original point. Generally speaking, airflow is likely
to change. Therefore, it was measured five times
during approximately a 10-second period, and
average wind velocities were obtained. Firstly, only
the characteristics of the airflow direction control
mechanism shown in Fig. 3 (c) were examined, and
then the characteristics of when the bamboo blind-
type screen was mounted were inspected.
3.3.2 Experimental Results
Fig. 4 shows the changes of airflow when the angle
of the blades was set at -40 degrees. A smoke-
generating device (Stage Evolution’s product:
Smoke Stream JR) was installed at the air-intake of
the blower and the airflow discharged from the
screen was visualized and photographed, and the
distribution of smoke was highlighted by image
processing. As shown in Fig. 4 (a), in the case where
the screen was dismantled, the air in the box was
generally inflected in the direction of the blade angle
and discharged. Fig. 4 (b) shows a case where the
bamboo blind-type screen was installed. In that case,
although the air was inflected the same as the (a)
case, it can be observed that the discharging angle
was slightly smaller than the blade angle. Therefore,
displacement of the airflow direction caused by
passing through a bamboo blind-type screen was
obtained in detail.
Fig. 5 shows the conditions where the screen was
installed. Fig. 5 (a) shows the results of the
measurement of wind velocity made at each position
with ●■▲ markers parallel to the screen (direction
of x) as the second original points. These ●■▲show
a 50 cm, 100 cm and 200 cm distance from the first
original point. Fig. 5 (b) shows the velocity
distribution of airflow when the blade angle θ was 0
degrees, Fig. 5 (c) and (b) show those when the
blade angles θ were +30 degrees and -30 degrees,
respectively, and Fig. 5 (e) and (f) show those when
the blade angles θwere +45 degrees and –45 degrees,
respectively. The larger the blade angle becomes, the
more the position of the maximum wind velocity
deviates from the original point. However, the
amounts of deviation were not so large. For
example, in the case where the angle of blade was 30
degrees, the position of the maximum wind velocity
deviated 10 cm to the right (x direction) from the
original point at 200 cm distance. In other words, it
was an accidental error of approximately -11% of
the blade angle (3.3 degrees/30 degrees) because the
angle of airflow was 26.7 degrees. An accidental
error occurred in the same way when the blade angle
was negative.
Figure 4: Experimental results changing air flow direction
with blade.
3.4 Characteristics of Scent
Presentation
In order to examine whether it is possible to present
a scent to the users at distant positions, an
experiment of sensory evaluation was conducted
under the situation in Fig. 3 (a), where subjects were
placed in the position of (1) (0 degrees, 200 cm) and
(2) (-45 degrees, 200 cm), as shown in Fig. 5 (a).
Guerlian’s Samsara Eau de toilette was used for the
scent. A mouillette, which was immersed in the
scent, was placed near the center of the bamboo
blind-type screen, the blade angle was set at -45
degrees and airflow was sent for five seconds.
Subjects were asked to respond to the questionnaire
at four stages (1. No smell at all, 2. Some smell, 3.
Can recognize the scent, and 4. Can strongly
ImageDisplaySystemUsingBamboo-blindTypeScreenthatCanDischargeSmell
251
recognize the scent). Subjects were four university
students with a normal sense of smell.
Fig. 6 shows the average scores of the
questionnaire. It was clear that the subjects
perceived the smell at the position of (1) and almost
did not at the position of (2). Because the air flowed
only in the direction of (1) from Fig. 5, the results
could be assumed. However, it was clarified that
scent can be selectively discharged to a given
direction.
Figure 5: Velocity distribution of air flow that passes
through bamboo blind type screen.
Figure 6: Difference of smell perception according to
observation place.
3.5 Evaluation Experiment of Image
Quality by Projection
In order to examine the degree of influence of the
bamboo blind-type screen on the image quality, an
experiment was conducted where the conventional
projector screen (PS) and the bamboo blind-type
screen (BS) described in 3.1 had images projected
on them and the subjects subjectively evaluated
them. Two images were subjected to evaluation: (i)
Latin dance image as an image with a large amount
of movement (rumba for three minutes) and (ii) The
Sound of Music as a famous movie (the first 20
minutes was subtitled). These images were
reproduced by a PC from a DVD by the MEG2
Standard. The projector was an EPSON’s LCD
projector (Model No.:EMP-835) with a luminance
level of 3000 lm, contrast ratio of 600:1 and a pixel
count of liquid crystal panel (3LCD) of 1024 x 768.
The visual distance was 2 m. The subjects were
seven university students with normal audio and
visual senses (ages ranging from 21-23). They were
asked to respond to a questionnaire with an interval
scale of five stages concerning the readability of the
subtitles and the quality of the image.
Figure 7: Image projected to bamboo blind type screen.
Movie: The Sound of Music.
Fig. 7 shows a scene from The Sound of Music
projected to the BS. Because the surface of the
screen became brighter by the projected image, the
blowing system behind the screen was not
perceived. Fig. 8 shows the average scores of the
questionnaire. The scales of readability were: 1.
Cannot read, 2. Difficult to read, 3. No opinion, 4.
Can read without problem, and 5. Can clearly read.
The average score from the BS was 3.9, which
means that the subtitles are largely read without
problem. The scales of satisfaction in the quality of
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image were: 1. Not satisfied at all, 2. Barely
satisfied, 3. No opinion, 4. Rather satisfied and 5.
Greatly satisfied. The average score of the BS was
3.3, which means they were rather on the side of
satisfaction. There were many opinions in the free
description column of the questionnaire such as that
human’s movement and countenances could be
accepted without an uncomfortable feeling and that
although not satisfactory, it could be appreciated.
However, the score of the BS was low by 0.8
compared to that of the PS at 4.1, and as a result of
test, the difference between both screens was clear at
a significant level of 5%.
Figure 8: Subjective evaluation to video images.
3.6 Discussion
It was discovered that because there are gaps in the
horizontal direction on the bamboo blind-type
screen, it is easy to control bending the airflow in the
horizontal direction using blades. The accidental
error in the actual airflow angle to the blade angle
was less than 1/3 of the case where holes were made
on the LED panel. An accidental error of 11%
occurred at θ＝ ±30 degrees. With this extent of
error, it is possible to selectively present scent and
airflow in the direction of the users with the error
taken into consideration. If it is possible to send
scent only in a particular direction, not diffusing it, it
requires less scent and is advantageous to switch the
scent in accordance with the scene of image. As the
reasons of error previously described, it can be
considered that because the gaps are narrow, when
the air is passing though them, it causes friction and
the bamboo blinds are raised up from the rotation
axes by wind pressure and the airflow turbulence
occurs there. For the latter case, it is possible to
make improvement by devising a way to install the
bamboo blind.
Regarding the quality of image, although there is
a bit of a problem, potential future improvement will
be discussed. The size of the bamboo blind-type
screen was 85 cm in width and 64 cm in length. The
diameter of the rod of the blind was 1.26 mmφ and
the gap was 0.87 mm so that the picture element
pitch in the vertical direction was 2.13 mm. Because
there was no gap in the horizontal direction, if a
high-resolution projector is used, the number of
pixels can be ensured with the specification of this
device. However, the number of pixels in the
vertical direction is limited to approximately 300
because of constraint of the picture element pixel, as
described above. This rough pixel density is
considered to affect the quality of image. If the gap
is approximately 1 mm, the airflow can be sent to a
location a few meters away. Therefore, if the gaps
are approximately 1 mm, the size of the screen is
made larger, and the image is observed from more
distant location, the quality of image can be
improved.
According to the NTSC standard, the displayable
number of scanning lines is 436 in the vertical
direction, and for the visual vertical resolution, the
number of scanning lines is multiplied by the Kell
factor and is said to be about 436×0.7≒305. It can
be inferred from this idea that if the size of the
screen is made to be 1.5 times larger, the same
quality of image can possibly be obtained.
Meanwhile, according to the HDTV standard, the
total number of scanning lines is 1,125 and the
number of effective scanning lines is 1,080.
Therefore, if the size of the screen is made to be 3-4
times larger, the same quality of image can possibly
be obtained. It is a large size screen about 3 meters
in width, and even though it is not uncommon as a
digital signage (Musgrave G., 2001), its application
to this field can be expected.
Because the experiment of paragraph 3.5
considers the distinctiveness of a bamboo blind
screen, it is different from a usual image quality
evaluation. Therefore, the evaluations of a resolution
and visual tiredness, etc. will be necessary in the
future.
4 CONCLUSIONS
Authors proposed a KMMD that can integrally
present visual, smell and breeze-feeling information.
This system was installed with a screen with small
holes and gaps, and airflow and scent generating
devices behind the screen. The author et al.
produced a trial device, discussed a method
presenting scent using its functions, and clarified the
following:
ImageDisplaySystemUsingBamboo-blindTypeScreenthatCanDischargeSmell
253
(1) When a blade mechanism was installed behind
a bamboo blind-type screen, the deviation of
the direction of airflow became small and it
became possible to control sending airflow in a
given direction by the rotation of the blades.
(2) It was possible to send scent in the airflow in
only a predetermined direction.
(3) In the evaluation experiment for the image
quality on the bamboo blind-type screen,
although the quality of image was lower than
the conventional screen, it could be
appreciated. If the size of gap in the bamboo
blind is the same, it is possible to improve the
quality of the image by making the size of the
screen larger and projecting high-resolution
images. Therefore, the system that integrally
presents scent and breeze in accordance with
the contents of images while maintaining the
desired quality of image can be realized.
As the tasks regarding KMMD in the future, the
following are pointed out: further precision of the
mechanism to control sending airflow in a given
direction, higher definition along with larger screen
structure and development of the mechanism of
blending scent in airflow. It is also necessary to
develop the contents with a high realistic sensation
utilizing the environment that can integrally present
image, scent and breeze. It is also desirable to
discuss its application to digital signages, large
screen virtual game, simulator with high reality,
scent education system, etc. in the future.
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