How would you like to taste what’s on your screen? Homei Miyashita, a Meiji University professor, has developed Taste the TV (TTTV), a TV screen you can lick.
As per the Reuters report, the prototype model sends electrical signals to 10 flavor canisters covering the film overlay. These flavor canisters combine their contents to reproduce the taste of a particular food shown on the screen. Out of all the things you can do with your TV, licking and tasting it is now one.
Taste the TV to enhance your experience
“In the COVID-19 era, this kind of technology can enhance the way people connect and interact with the outside world,” said Homei Miyashita. Subsequently, the professor wants to make it possible for people to experience something from far away while staying at home.
While most people would freak out watching someone kissing their TV, Miyashita wants people to experience what’s inside. A TV that you can lick would have weird yet unique use cases. For instance, you could taste several recipes before cooking them or try a cuisine by licking your TV screen.
Moreover, Miyashita and his team have been developing the device for now. He discussed the concept of a “taste synthesizer” in 2020 and teased the TV in October 2021. The professor estimated that the final production cost of the lickable TV would be around $875. Hence, it might be practical for some parts of some industries.
Furthermore, this isn’t the only “sensory” product Miyashita came up with. The professor and his team produced a variety of flavor-related devices. These flavor machines include a fork that enhances the food’s taste and several others. Apart from a TV that you can lick, Miyashita has more ideas that involve sensory actions for the future.
