Would you try tasting the virtual world? It’s just the beginning of something really cool!

BY KHADIJA KARIM

Have you ever wished you could taste something while using virtual reality? Well, researchers from the City University of Hong Kong have come up with a way to make that happen! They invented a lollipop-shaped device that lets you taste different flavours while wearing a VR headset. It sounds like something from a futuristic movie, but it’s real!

Here’s how it works, the device holds flavoured gels, like cherry, milk, and green tea. When you put on the VR headset, a Bluetooth signal tells the lollipop what flavour to produce. A tiny electric current is then sent through the gel using a process called iontophoresis. This makes the flavour appear on your taste buds. Lollipop even uses smells to make the flavour taste real. So, when you lick the lollipop, it really does taste like the flavour you’re supposed to be experiencing.

There are some limits to the device. Right now, it can only produce nine preloaded flavours. Another issue is that the gel dries out after about an hour, so you can’t use it for too long. However, this technology is still much better than the old methods used to try and create virtual taste. In the past, some methods involved chemicals that had to be placed on your tongue, but that wasn’t easy to use. Another method had people stick electrodes to their tongues, which sounds pretty uncomfortable.

You might wonder why we need virtual taste at all. Researchers say it could be useful in medicine. For example, it could help doctors test for gustatory disorders, which are problems with taste. Imagine going to the doctor for a test where they check if you can tell the difference between the taste of milk and grapefruit. That’s something the VR lollipop could help with!

This invention could also make shopping more fun. Think about it, if you’re shopping online for snacks, or drinks, you could taste them virtually before buying. It’s like trying a sample at the store, but you can do it from your own home. It may sound a little silly, but it could help people make better decisions when buying food.

This new technology shows just how much virtual reality is changing. We’ve had visuals and sound in VR for a while, but now taste is becoming part of the experience. Who knows what’s next? Maybe in the future, we’ll taste food in VR games or try out recipes in a virtual kitchen. Even though it’s still new, it’s exciting to think about the possibilities. Would you try tasting the virtual world? It’s just the beginning of something really cool!