Lick it up: Japanese professor creates ‘tele-taste’ TV screen
nttnttntttnttttnttttttnttttttttn
n n n nttttttt
A Japanese professor has developed a prototype lickable TV screen that can imitate food flavors, another step toward creating a multisensory viewing experience.
The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), uses a carousel of 10 flavor canisters that spray in combination to create the taste of a particular food. The flavor sample then rolls on hygienic film over a flat TV screen for the viewer to try.
n
In the COVID-19 era, this kind of technology can enhance the way people connect and interact with the outside world, said Meiji University professor Homei Miyashita.
“The goal is to make it possible for people to have the experience of something like eating at a restaurant on the other side of the world, even while staying at home,” he said.
Miyashita works with a team of about 30 students that has produced a variety of flavor-related devices, including a fork that makes food taste richer. He said he built the TTTV prototype himself over the past year and that a commercial version would cost about ¥100,000 ($875) to make.
n
Potential applications include distance learning for sommeliers and cooks, and tasting games and quizzes, he said.
Miyashita has also been in talks with companies about using his spray technology for applications like a device that can apply a pizza or chocolate taste to a slice of toasted bread.
He also hopes to make a platform where tastes from around the world can be downloaded and enjoyed by users, much like music is now.
One Meiji University student demonstrated TTTV for reporters, telling the screen she wanted to taste sweet chocolate. After a few tries, an automated voice repeated the order and flavor jets spritzed a sample onto a plastic sheet.
“It’s kind of like milk chocolate,” she said. “It’s sweet like a chocolate sauce.”
n
nnttnttntntnttnttntntnttnttntnnt
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
ntSUBSCRIBE NOWnnttntttnttttRELATEDntttntttntttttnttttttDeepfake anyone: AI synthetic media tech enters perilous phasentttttnttttntttttttntttttnttttttHonda turns to AI-powered tech to make roads saferntttttnttttnttttttttntttttttntnntnttPHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)ntntnttnt ntttttntttttttntttttnttttttttttntttttntttttttntttttnttttttttttntttttntttttttntttttnttttttntnnntnttKEYWORDSntnttelevision, food, tech , Homei Miyashita, Meiji Unviersitynnn n n ttttt