Ode Emits Food Smells to Remind Dementia Patients It's Time to Eat
Laura McQuarrie — May 13, 2015 — Lifestyle
References: myode.org & fastcodesign
Unfortunately, serious weight loss and malnutrition are symptoms of dementia, simply because most patients don't eat enough food—Ode is a device that aims to tackle this problem with scent. Ode is like an alarm clock that emits food scents rather than sounds, triggering a dementia patient's appetite to remind them that it is time to eat once again.
Even though loss of smell is a symptom of some neurological diseases, it is the only sense with receptors that are attached to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotional responses. The human brain tends to become immune to the same smells after about four minutes, so Ode is programmed to release fragrances in rhythmic sequences, depending on the time that is set for eating.
Even though loss of smell is a symptom of some neurological diseases, it is the only sense with receptors that are attached to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotional responses. The human brain tends to become immune to the same smells after about four minutes, so Ode is programmed to release fragrances in rhythmic sequences, depending on the time that is set for eating.
Trend Themes
1. Scent-based Reminder - Creating devices that use scent to trigger specific actions, like eating, can be a disruptive innovation opportunity in the healthcare industry.
2. Utilizing Emotional Response - Leveraging the limbic system's connection to emotions through scent-based devices can lead to innovative solutions for addressing psychological and cognitive conditions.
3. Rhythmic Fragrance Sequencing - Developing technologies that release fragrances in rhythmic sequences can enhance the effectiveness of scent-based reminders, presenting opportunities in the assistive living and healthcare sectors.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can explore the use of scent-based devices to improve patient care and address specific challenges faced by individuals with dementia and other cognitive conditions.
2. Assistive Living - Incorporating scent-based reminders into assistive living technologies can enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals and those with cognitive impairments, presenting a disruptive innovation opportunity in the industry.
3. Technology - The technology industry can contribute to the development of scent-emitting devices that leverage rhythmic fragrance sequencing to address various challenges in healthcare and assistive living.
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