Text CG2A1-II
Virtual reality (VR) can, in its own imperfect ways,
transport a user into distant experiences. One thing VR can’t yet
do, however, is simulate the experience of eating lunch. But that
could change thanks to a new “bio-integrated gustatory interface”
device called e-Taste.
Researchers from Ohio State University created a small
electromagnetic pump connected to a liquid channel of chemicals
that, when mixed in the right ratios, can approximate the taste of
coffee, lemonade, cake, and other food and drinks. That newly
crafted chemical liquid is then pushed through via a gel. Users
ultimately experience the taste as a liquid that sits in their mouth.
And while an initial group of human test subjects struggled to
accurately differentiate between different taste profiles, the study
suggests a future VR steakhouse experience might not be as
far-fetched as it sounds.
The researchers tested their new device on 10 volunteers
and received mixed results. On the positive side, the test subjects
were able to differentiate between various sour taste profile
intensities with approximately 70 percent accuracy. The tests
were less conclusive though when researchers asked participants
to distinguish between flavors intended to represent cake, fried
egg, coffee, and fish soup. That discrepancy is not necessarily
due entirely to poor device performance, though. Even in the
physical world, taste is inherently subjective. Factors such as
smell, memory, and visual cues can influence how we perceive
food. Two people might experience the taste of the same meal
slightly differently. “Taste and smell are greatly related to human
emotion and memory,” added one of the researchers. “So our
sensor has to learn to capture, control, and store all that
information.”
The e-Taste researchers believe their device could also
have applications beyond video games. Theoretically, the
technology could one day allow users to virtually taste-test items
before ordering them. Medical professionals might also use the
device to remotely assess whether patients have lost certain
aspects of taste, which could be an early indicator of illness.
Additionally, the device could serve as an aid in reintroducing
taste sensations to individuals with certain neurological disorders
or illnesses, such as long COVID, that have impaired their ability
to taste food.
Internet: <popsci.com> (adapted).
According to text CG2A1-II, judge the item that follow.