Can data journalism be sniffed? Exploring the possibilities of olfactory interfaces for the presentation of data journalism information

In recent years, data journalism has seen significant global growth, yet its presentation remains visual. With the advancement of sensory journalism and immersive technologies, olfaction has the potential to bring a unique experience and value to users as an interface for data journalism. In this study, we innovatively used olfactory interaction technology and developed a prototype olfactory device for data journalism. Then, a pilot study (N = 36) was conducted to evaluate the impact of the olfaction interface on users’ perception, experience, and memory. Preliminary results suggest that the olfactory interface is effective in several ways, including aiding storytelling, enhancing users’ long-term memory of news content (especially qualitative data), and increasing user engagement and immersion. We further shared our experiences, design insights, and lessons learned regarding the olfactory mapping method, the olfactory interface’s value in data journalism, the challenges faced, and the scope for future applications. While still in its nascent stages, olfactory interfaces show considerable promise for enriching the data journalism experience.