You can Taste Video Games with the Device Developed by Scientists

Imagine putting on a VR headset and suddenly finding yourself face-to-face with a delicious ice cream sundae. Using motion controllers, you take a spoonful of virtual vanilla ice cream-though the sensation of cold is missing, the familiar sweetness spreads across your tongue, thanks to a small remote tasting device attached to your lower teeth. While it may sound like something out of a futuristic film, an international team of researchers has turned this concept into reality by developing a human-machine interface called e-Taste. This innovative device allows users to experience virtual flavors by delivering controlled amounts of salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami chemicals directly into their mouths.

Published in Science Advances, the study highlights how e-Taste could revolutionize everything from gaming to dietary habits. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, taste is among the hardest senses to replicate in virtual and augmented reality. However, when tested on 16 individuals, e-Taste successfully recreated a range of flavors, including complex combinations like those found in chicken soup, all while offering adjustable intensity levels. The device operates by dispensing specific chemical compounds-salt (NaCl) for saltiness, citric acid for sourness, glucose for sweetness, MgCl2 for bitterness, and glutamate for umami-through a gel that reaches the user’s tongue via a small tab. Controlled by an electromagnetic pump, the system synchronizes flavor delivery with remote stimuli, embracing an “Internet of Things” approach to create an immersive tasting experience.

Engineered with safety and durability in mind, the device is designed to withstand accidental biting while remaining effective and adaptable. Researchers, including engineer Shulin Chen from Ohio State University, envision broad applications for this technology, such as enhancing virtual gaming, improving online shopping, aiding in remote education, supporting weight management, refining sensory testing, and even assisting in physical rehabilitation. Picture being able to taste an item from a restaurant menu before placing an order-while ice cream shops offer samples, steak or pasta dishes don’t come with the same privilege. Although this specific application isn’t directly mentioned in the study, the implications are exciting, particularly for gamers who may soon get to “taste” the impact of their favorite fighting games. Whether for culinary exploration or immersive entertainment, remote tasting technology could transform the way we interact with digital environments.