Scientists Develop a Device That Lets You Taste Video Games

Imagine slipping on a VR headset and finding yourself sitting in front of a gorgeous ice cream sundae. Using your motion controllers, you eat a large spoonful of this virtual vanilla ice cream—and while you can’t feel the coldness in your mouth, you can taste its familiar sweetness thanks to a remote tasting device on your lower teeth. While this might seem like a gadget straight out of a sci-fi movie, a team of international researchers has indeed developed a new human-machine interface (HMI) that allows users to taste virtual flavors. Aptly named e-Taste, the device releases salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami chemicals directly into the user’s mouth in response to remote stimuli. As detailed in a study published today in the journal Science Advances, e-Taste could have a variety of applications, from video games to weight management. Taste is one of the most difficult senses for machines to simulate in virtual and augmented reality, according to a statement from the American Ass ... Read full article.