New device lets you taste food in virtual reality

Virtual reality has the ability to transport users into distant experiences, such as performing surgery or touring famous landmarks. However, one experience it has not been able to simulate is eating lunch. That could change with the development of a new device called “e-Taste,” which is a bio-integrated gustatory interface.

Researchers from Ohio State University recently detailed the workings of this device in the journal Science Advances. The device utilizes a small electromagnetic pump connected to a liquid channel of chemicals that can replicate the taste of various foods and drinks. The chemical liquid is then pushed through a gel, allowing users to experience the taste in their mouth. Researchers can control the intensity of the taste remotely. While initial test subjects had difficulty differentiating between tastes, the study suggests that a VR dining experience may not be too far off in the future.

Researchers analyzed flavor at the molecular level

The e-Taste device operates in three phases. The first phase involves sensors analyzing the molecules present in a food or beverage to identify the taste components. These components correspond to the five basic tastes. The data is then wirelessly transmitted to the device for replication. Researchers can control the flavor data remotely, allowing for taste experiences without physical food or drink.

The second phase of the process focuses on replicating the initial flavor sample. Chemicals in liquid chambers are mixed to mimic different taste sensations, and the intensity can be adjusted by controlling the pump cycles. The final mixture is converted into a gel that carries the tastes into the user’s mouth. Ohio State professor Jinhua Li emphasized the importance of integrating chemical dimensions into virtual and augmented reality experiences.

The researchers tested the device on volunteers, with mixed results. While some subjects could differentiate between sour taste profiles, others had difficulty with flavors like cake, fried egg, coffee, and fish soup. Taste perception is subjective, influenced by factors like smell and memory. The device’s sensor aims to capture and control this information for an immersive experience.

Yizhen Jia, a Ohio State University Ph.D. student and co-author of the study, shared insights from the testing process, highlighting the challenges of replicating taste sensations in VR settings.

Previous attempts have been made to bring taste sensations to VR, such as a lollipop-like device developed by researchers from City University of Hong Kong. This device utilized chemicals to produce flavors when activated by voltage, creating a virtual taste experience for users.

The device’s details were featured in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

There is a lengthy and complex history of integrating additional senses into media. The concept of introducing taste to virtual reality may be innovative, but the pursuit of enhancing media with more senses goes back nearly a century. In the 1930s, theaters experimented with emitting fragrances into the air during films. Hans Laube, a Swiss advertising executive, developed a system called “Smell-O-Vision,” which utilized a network of pipes in movie theaters to release scents at specific moments in the movie. More recently, researchers from Japan created a home television known as the “smelling screen,” which used gel pellets to emit scented vapors towards viewers. Sony also recently teased a forthcoming system where players can immerse themselves in a cube-like platform surrounded by LED screens to play games like The Last Of Us, offering not only a 360-degree visual experience but also the ability to smell elements of the environment.

The creators of the e-Taste device believe it has potential applications beyond video games. In the future, the technology could enable users to virtually taste items before purchasing them. Medical professionals could use the device to remotely assess if patients have lost certain taste sensations, which could indicate underlying health issues. Additionally, the device could help reintroduce taste sensations to individuals with neurological disorders or illnesses like long COVID that have affected their ability to taste food.

“This concept is a significant step towards becoming a part of the metaverse,” mentioned Li, one of the researchers. Could you please rephrase that?