Introduction to Virtual Taste Technology

Imagine yourself wearing a VR headset and finding yourself in a virtual environment where you are sitting in front of a delicious-looking ice cream sundae. With the help of motion controllers, you take a large spoonful of the virtual vanilla ice cream. Although you cannot feel the coldness of the ice cream in your mouth, you can experience its sweetness thanks to a remote tasting device attached to your lower teeth.

The e-Taste Device

This concept may seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but a team of international researchers has actually developed a new human-machine interface (HMI) called e-Taste, which enables users to experience virtual flavors. The device releases salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami chemicals directly into the user’s mouth in response to remote stimuli. As described in a study published in the journal Science Advances, e-Taste has various potential applications, including video games and weight management.

The Challenge of Simulating Taste

Taste is one of the most challenging senses for machines to simulate in virtual and augmented reality, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. However, in the study, 16 human users confirmed that e-Taste successfully reproduced various tastes, including complex flavor combinations, such as those found in chicken soup, and also delivered tastes at different intensities.

How e-Taste Works

The device uses different chemicals to simulate various tastes: NaCl (salt) for salty flavors, citric acid for sour, glucose (a type of sugar) for sweet, MgCl2 (a type of bitter salt) for bitter, and glutamate for umami, also known as savoriness. e-Taste dispatches these chemicals in gel format through a tab that extends from the small device to the tongue. An electromagnetic pump controls the delivery, coordinating with remote stimuli in what the researchers describe as an "Internet of Things" approach.

Safety and Potential Applications

According to the study, the device has proven to be safe, versatile, and tunable, as well as resistant to potential damage caused by biting. The researchers, including engineer Shulin Chen from Ohio State University, explained that potential applications include immersive gaming, online shopping, remote education, weight management, sensory testing, physical rehabilitation, and others.

Future Possibilities

Imagine being able to taste something on a menu before ordering it. While it’s common for ice cream shops to offer samples, it’s not possible with other foods like steak or pasta. Although the study doesn’t specifically mention this example, a remote tasting device like e-Taste could be revolutionary for indecisive diners. The possibilities for this technology are vast, and it will be exciting to see how it develops in the future.