A Japanese professor has developed a prototype for a lickable TV screen that can emulate real-world flavours, in an ongoing bid to ensure you never leave your home again.
The Taste The TV device (TTTV) is installed with a carousel of ten flavour beakers that are combined to form the various tastes. A layer of hygienic film then rolls onto a flat screen which is then licked by the viewer/taster.
“In the COVID-19 era, this kind of technology can enhance the way people connect and interact with the outside world”, said inventor, Meiji University professor Homei Miyashita, who worked with a team of thirty students to develop the prototype.
Miyashita claims that a commercial version could be developed for roughly A$1,150 apiece.
“The goal is to make it possible for people to have the experience of something like eating at a restaurant on the other side of the world, even while staying at home,” he said.
Miyashita says his invention can be used for everything from distance learning for chefs, to quizzes. He is also working on a platform where various tastes from around the world can be downloaded, much like with MP3 technology.
