London: If you find your colleague’s food photos annoying, things might be about to get worse. Scientists have developed a device that can recreate the flavors of food and drink, allowing them to be shared remotely in real-time.
Called “e-Taste,” the device could revolutionize digital experiences, from immersive gaming and online shopping to biomedical research and virtual food adventures. However, the system is still in development and cannot yet replicate sensations like spiciness or fattiness.
How It Works
The e-Taste system consists of two key components. The first is an electronic tongue that analyzes the concentration of five basic taste chemicals in a food sample. This data is then transmitted wirelessly to the second component, a flavor-reproducing device that delivers the taste to a user’s mouth through a controlled liquid system.
The five taste chemicals correspond to the basic human taste sensations:
- Sweet (glucose)
- Sour (citric acid)
- Salty (sodium chloride)
- Bitter (magnesium chloride)
- Umami (glutamate)
Users receive the recreated flavors through a straw-like outlet that delivers the taste to specific regions of the tongue, mimicking the original food experience.
To test the system, scientists at Ohio State University conducted experiments with volunteers. In one test, participants identified different levels of sourness with a 70 percent accuracy rate. In another, volunteers sampled taste combinations designed to mimic foods like lemonade, coffee, and fried eggs-achieving an 87 percent success rate in identifying them.
Experts welcome the innovation but acknowledge its limitations. Marianna Obrist, a professor at University College London, called it a “compelling step” toward integrating taste into digital experiences. While spicy flavors remain a challenge, scientists believe e-Taste could redefine how we interact with food in virtual reality.
