Scientists have developed a new device, dubbed ''e-Taste'' promising to enhance virtual reality experiences by adding the element of taste. This innovative gadget allows for the remote sharing of food and drink flavors in seconds, though it currently faces limitations in recreating certain tastes like spiciness and fattiness. It could significantly enrich virtual and augmented reality systems, deepening user experiences.
The e-Taste could also be beneficial for biomedical research and virtual food adventures. "It offers potential applications across immersive gaming, online shopping, remote education, weight management, sensory testing, physical rehabilitation, and more," say the researchers, highlighting its broad potential uses.
The system consists of a sensing platform that functions as an ''electronic tongue'' which captures data about the concentration of five different taste chemicals in a liquid sample and sends this information wirelessly to a device. This device pushes liquids through a gel layer containing five edible taste chemicals, allowing for controlled delivery to an outlet placed in the recipient's mouth.
Yizhen Jia, a co-author of the study from Ohio State University, explains, "People will get something like a straw in their mouth, and thus placing it to specific locations when needed." The research team notes that in taste tests using this system, volunteers were able to differentiate various sour intensities with an overall accuracy rate of 70%.