Taste the Future: VR Lollipop Brings Flavors to Virtual Worlds

Virtual reality experiences have gained a delicious new twist. Scientists at the City University of Hong Kong have developed a lollipop-shaped device that allows you to taste flavors in virtual, augmented and mixed realities.The device uses the iontophoresis technique, which stimulates specific tastes on the tongue by sending ions through safe hydrogels. When the user licks the lollipop, they perceive chemically created flavors, without having to consume physical substances.

This innovation surpasses previous methods of simulating taste in VR, which involved uncomfortable devices such as electrodes. The new technology provides a more fluid experience, offering nine distinct flavors, including sugar, salt, citric acid, cherry, green tea, milk, passion fruit or grapefruit.Compact and lightweight, the device weighs just 15 grams and is housed in a 3D-printed case with ultra-thin circuit boards. When licked, an electric current interacts with the flavored hydrogels, generating the flavors.

To make the experience even more immersive, it also releases aromas that match the simulated tastes, integrating smell and taste.

In addition to entertainment, the device has great practical potential. In medicine, it can be used for standardized taste tests in patients with taste disorders, making diagnoses faster and more accurate.

In e-commerce, consumers could virtually sample flavors before purchasing, adding a new dimension to online shopping. In education, children would have an interactive tool to explore different flavors.

Still, the device presents challenges. The hydrogels that produce the flavors need to be replaced after about an hour of use. Researchers are looking for ways to extend their lifespan and expand the flavor range, with the goal of creating an even more immersive sensory experience.

While it's still not ideal for long VR gaming marathons, this device represents a significant advancement in multi-sensory digital experiences.

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