This device lets you e-taste food seen on cooking shows
What's the story
A team of scientists from Ohio State University, US, has developed an innovative device that would let viewers "taste" food from their television screens. The groundbreaking tech, detailed in the journal Science Advances, uses sensors to capture the taste of food through electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to a separate gadget that mimics these flavors using chemicals.
Mechanism
How does this device work?
The device, which has to be worn on lower teeth, releases these chemicals as gels into a person's mouth. This replicates the original flavors of food items like soup, cake, or coffee. The system was tested on 16 participants, who confirmed its ability to create base-level flavors and their varying intensity. They could even identify what they were tasting, whether it was baked goods, fish, or fried food.
Information
Applications beyond culinary experiences
The researchers think this tech could have several applications apart from making culinary experiences on TV more interesting. It could be used for immersive gaming, online shopping, remote education, weight management, and sensory testing. It could also be useful for people with brain injuries.