Is There Anything That XML Can't Do?

The Inquirer: XML Smell language developed by university

A researcher at Huelva University in Spain claims to have created a version of XML that can transmit smells. Or fragrances if you prefer.

The university said that it's worked with researchers in both computing and chemistry to come up with the concept of the XML Smell language.

It said the initial idea was to print smells on paper using laser and inkjet printers, but the fragrances degraded over a short period of time. And so the boffins claim to have developed a dual pass printing system, using two polymers which degrade by light and by touch, so that the niff only niffs when a document is read.

But the researchers said they quickly realised that smells could be propagated over networks and the Web. And so they have created XML Smell, which they claim can define in universal and standardised way the transmission of smell which allows the transmission of fragrances by email, by SMS to a mobile phone, or via a TV show.