Smoke detector for the deaf that smells of sushi

The device sprays out a synthesised version of the sushi condiment and in tests the odour woke volunteers up in two-and-a-half minutes.

If you’ve ever had wasabi – a pungent spicy horseradish – you probably won’t be surprised at its effectiveness.

Assistant Professor Makoto Imai from the Shiga University of Medical Science, who helped develop the alarm, says it may save lives among the hard of hearing.

He said: ‘The proportion of the elderly among fire victims was nearly 50 per cent. So we thought that the decline of hearing ability may be one of the causes for delay in noticing and getting away when a fire breaks out.’

The product will be out in shops in two years’ time and will cost around £350.

This definitely could be a life saver – unless you’ve got blocked nose.


/Metro.co.uk/