A Japanese professor has developed a type of TV that allows users to taste food by licking the screen. This is a groundbreaking advancement in multisensory experiences.
According to The Guardian, this device is called Taste the TV, which utilizes a conveyor belt consisting of 10 flavor canisters that combine to create the taste of specific dishes. Once the flavors are blended, the canisters release their contents onto a hygienic film placed on a flat surface, enabling viewers to taste directly with their tongues.
Yuki Hou, a student at Meiji University in Tokyo, experiences tasting food on Taste the TV. (Photo: Reuters).
Professor Homei Miyashita from Meiji University in Tokyo stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, this technology could enhance experiences, allowing people to connect and interact with the outside world.
“The goal is to provide users with a dining experience similar to eating at a restaurant on the other side of the world, even when they are at home,” said Professor Miyashita.
Professor Miyashita, working with a team of about 30 students, has developed various flavor-related devices, including a fork that enhances the taste of food. He mentioned that he has been working on the prototype of the taste TV for over a year, with the commercial version estimated to cost around 100,000 yen.
Other potential applications include guides for cocktail mixing, remote chef training, and puzzle games. Professor Miyashita is also discussing with companies the possibility of using this technology for devices that create flavors like pizza or chocolate on a slice of toast.
Yuki Hou, a 22-year-old student at Meiji University, demonstrated Taste the TV to reporters. She expressed her desire to taste sweet chocolate on the screen. After repeating her request several times, an automated voice confirmed her order, and the flavor spray was prepared to be released onto the film.
“It tastes like milk chocolate. The sweetness is just like chocolate,” she said.
