The Taste Buddy is a device developed by scientists at the University of London that could be a boon for picky eaters. By applying light electrical currents to the tongue, the Taste Buddy is able to trick people into tasting sweet, sour or salty flavors.
Currently, the Taste Buddy is a prototype device. As such, its design is completely utilitarian, but its functionality is impressive. The device variably uses electricity, frequency, and temperature to manipulate people's various taste regions. For example, the sensation of sweetness can be stimulated by fluctuating the temperature of one's tongue.
Once graduated from a prototype, the device could be inserted into special utensils that would augment the taste of whatever is being eaten with it. The Taste Buddy team eventually hopes to be able to recreate more specific tastes, like chocolate rather than just sweet, by incorporating smell into the system.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Taste Manipulation Devices
- Opportunity to disrupt the food industry by creating new and innovative products that can enhance or change the flavors of food.
- Electrical Stimulation Devices
- Opportunity to create new medical devices that use electrical currents to affect different parts of the body in a non-invasive way.
- Sensory Manipulation
- Opportunity to develop new marketing strategies that appeal to different senses and emotions to enhance the customer experience of a product or service.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Food and Beverage
- Opportunity to create innovative kitchen tools and appliances that enhance the taste of food and beverages.
- Medical Technology
- Opportunity to develop new medical devices that use electrical stimulation to treat various conditions.
- Consumer Goods
- Opportunity to develop new products that enhance the sensory experience of customers in everyday life.
