A Virtual reality It is intended to become more exciting. As for viewing and the ear has already achieved great success. Nevertheless, there are some feelings that remain a problem for developers of this type of application. For example, we can see and listen to what the car wants us to feel, but when the pleasure of this thing becomes more complicated. It would be wonderful to be able to feel that we are on the beach and enjoy Mojito. Or love good coffee while we see rain through the window. Who would not sign in order to relax with these virtual situations? It seems difficult, but it is possible that in the future it is not so difficult, thanks E-Tastea device developed by a team of scientists from University of Ohio.
This device consists of a tape that is placed on the tongue and connects to the pump, which makes a mixture of gel loaded using Chemical compounds This imitates the aromas that you want to reproduce. Currently, these researchers have managed to imitate complex aromas, such as cake, fish soup or fried egg. The results were not equally optimal with all these products, so there is still enough to improve. Nevertheless, it is clear that the inventors of E-Taste are on the right track.
It is true that this is not the first device that is trying to reproduce aromas within the framework of virtual reality. For example, in 2024 a kind lollipop This imitated aromas thanks to the aisleElectric East Through the tongue. However, as explained from Science NewsThe functioning of a sense of taste and its relationship with electrical impulses are not enough, since taste and smell sensors are Chemical sensorsThe field thus, the developers of the electronic point were focused on chemistry to get a much more effective device. The results are most promising. Let’s see how they achieved it.
Chemistry to reproduce taste in virtual reality
When we perceive the taste in real life, we do it because some molecules present in food are associated with Receptors They are in the mouth. They are especially in the language, but also in the taste and upper throat.
As soon as this union occurs, the signals are sent to the brain, which indicate the concrete taste of these molecules. This is because the receptors are specialized. There is, who knows, for aroma Sweet, acidic, bitter, salted by imams. Although some are the fruits of combinations. It is important to note that these receptors are not in certain areas of the language, in accordance with the taste with which they correspond. This was previously said in the past, when the famous aroma map was used. Today, however, we know that receptors They are distributed homogeneous with language.
Be that as it may, it is clear that each receiver sends a certain signal that belongs to the aroma. This drives the order in the brain so that we perceive the fragrance. But this is not an easy problem. We do not perceive sweet, salty, bitter, acidic by Ilims. Usually the aromas that we perceive are a combination of several of them. There is a telel for which we notice so diverse aromas in food.
E-Taste developers wanted to imitate this whole process within the framework of virtual reality. For this, they first prepared gels based on five chemical compounds: glucose, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, magnesium chloride and glutamateThe field each corresponds to a separate taste. Specifically with Sweet, acidic, salty, bitter and ummmyrespectively.
Each gel is loaded separately; But then, according to the taste that you want to imitate, it is released and mixed with others in the correct proportion. After mixing, they go to Electromagnetic pump Which fills the mixture on the tape, which was previously placed in the tongue.
Virtual kitchen
The authors of the study were based on the chemical composition of various products to reproduce their taste through a mixture of five available gels. They tried to cook five different products: Lemonade, cake, fried egg, fish and coffee soup.
As soon as the aromas were created, there were 6 participants who, not knowing which products imitated, should have guessed it. They were right in 87% of the case. First of all, lemonade and cake were easily recognized, although other products, such as a fried egg, were more difficult to recognize.
These scientists believe that in order to obtain an even more optimal result, the smell should also add to virtual reality. The taste of some products, such as coffee, is very supported by aromas. Therefore, if they do not include the mixture, the result can be less accurate.
Much more than virtual reality games
Logically, the main application of the electronic point is associated with games and other virtual reality applications. For example, educational or museum. However, the authors of the study believe that they can also have clinical applications in the case Sensory rehabilitation Which, as patients love those who have lost the smell from the Covid-19, visit. There are many reasons to continue studying the potential of this device. The future has come. We can try it.
Source: Hiper Textual
