If you wished you could know what the weather is like as soon as you rolled out of bed and brushed your teeth, you may be in luck thanks to 'Tastes Like Rain.' A toothpaste dispenser, it is influenced by daily weather forecasts, which changes the taste of the paste.
Developed by MIT's Media Lab, 'Tastes Like Rain' hooks up to a computer that pulls forecasts using custom software and then spits out three flavors depending on what the weather is compared to the day before. Mint signals colder, cinnamon represents warmer and stripes predict rain.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Weather-influenced Toothpaste
- A new type of toothpaste that infuses weather data into its flavors has the potential to disrupt the oral care industry by providing a novel way to engage consumers.
- Custom-made Taste Formulations
- As more products become personalized, companies in the oral care industry may explore ways to offer bespoke flavors tailored to individual preferences.
- Connected Devices in Daily Routines
- The increasing prevalence of smart home and personal assistant technology paves the way for toothbrushes and toothpaste dispensers that connect to other data sources and deliver new value to consumers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Oral Care
- Companies in the oral care industry have an opportunity to innovate their products by incorporating new and unique flavors that engage consumers in new ways.
- Data Analytics
- As data becomes more ubiquitous, companies in the data analytics industry have an opportunity to develop custom software and algorithms that enable product customization based on various data inputs.
- Smart Home
- The smart home industry can leverage connected devices to expand its product portfolio beyond home automation to include personal care products like toothbrushes and toothpaste dispensers.
