Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 474,671 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,276 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 305,576 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,276 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 305,576 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,221 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 474,671 cutting edge ideas.

Taste Manipulation Devices

The Taste Buddy Prototype Can Stimulate Taste Buds to Mimic Flavors

— October 26, 2016 — Tech
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.
Trend Themes
1. Taste Manipulation Devices - Opportunity to disrupt the food industry by creating new and innovative products that can enhance or change the flavors of food.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Opportunity to create innovative kitchen tools and appliances that enhance the taste of food and beverages.
2. Medical Technology - Opportunity to develop new medical devices that use electrical stimulation to treat various conditions.
3. Consumer Goods - Opportunity to develop new products that enhance the sensory experience of customers in everyday life.
2.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness