experience the flavor of everything from gummy candy to sushi
June 1, 2020 9:55 AM Subscribe
This Lickable Screen Can Recreate Almost Any Taste or Flavor Without Eating Food (Gizmodo): "…The Norimaki Synthesizer takes a more aggressive approach through the use of five gels that trigger the five different tastes when they make contact with the human tongue. ¶The color-coded gels, made from agar formed in the shape of long tubes, use glycine to create the taste of sweet, citric acid for acidic, sodium chloride for salty, magnesium chloride for bitter, and glutamic sodium for savory umami. When the device is pressed against the tongue (Youtube), the user experiences all five tastes at the same time, but specific flavors are created by mixing those tastes in specific amounts and intensities, like the RGB pixels on a screen. To accomplish this, the prototype is wrapped in copper foil so that when it’s held in hand and touched to the surface of the tongue, it forms an electrical circuit through the human body, facilitating a technique known as electrophoresis."
Norimaki Synthesizer: Taste Display Using Ion Electrophoresis in Five Gels (study PDF)
Norimaki Synthesizer: Taste Display Using Ion Electrophoresis in Five Gels (study PDF)
Do the snozzberries taste like snozzberries?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:04 AM on June 1, 2020 [27 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:04 AM on June 1, 2020 [27 favorites]
But why
posted by saturday_morning at 10:07 AM on June 1, 2020
posted by saturday_morning at 10:07 AM on June 1, 2020
This tastes a little fishy to me, as a majority of flavour perception is smell-based with taste buds providing the basic foundation.
posted by kmkrebs at 10:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [25 favorites]
posted by kmkrebs at 10:07 AM on June 1, 2020 [25 favorites]
as a majority of flavour perception is smell-based
I was curious about that, too: from the paper: "When we wrapped the device in dried seaweed, presenting taste of salty and sour with seaweed scent causes illusion of actually eating sushi."
So, understandably, you do need some kind of olfactory stimulus for the artificial taste to take on a more specific character. It's not surprising that "gummy candy," which mostly just tastes sweet and acidic, would be easy to approximate.
posted by wreckingball at 10:10 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
I was curious about that, too: from the paper: "When we wrapped the device in dried seaweed, presenting taste of salty and sour with seaweed scent causes illusion of actually eating sushi."
So, understandably, you do need some kind of olfactory stimulus for the artificial taste to take on a more specific character. It's not surprising that "gummy candy," which mostly just tastes sweet and acidic, would be easy to approximate.
posted by wreckingball at 10:10 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
We welcome this new age of sex toys. Well, some will, in any case.
posted by maxwelton at 10:18 AM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 10:18 AM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
Can it reproduce the taste of a 9-volt battery?
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:27 AM on June 1, 2020 [22 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:27 AM on June 1, 2020 [22 favorites]
Opened the thread expecting a 9-volt battery joke and was not disappointed.
posted by octothorpe at 10:29 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 10:29 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
We welcome this new age of sex toys.
Try OmniFlavor! Dispenser now available in both Countertop and Exo-Tentacle form factors!
posted by Sockdown at 10:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Try OmniFlavor! Dispenser now available in both Countertop and Exo-Tentacle form factors!
posted by Sockdown at 10:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Now make a version that slips over the tongue like a sock. Make any food taste like any other food! Your low-fat, low-calorie nutrient paste can taste like a sad parody of a steak. Or set it to random and be surprised! As a bonus you talk with a lisp now.
posted by dephlogisticated at 10:41 AM on June 1, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by dephlogisticated at 10:41 AM on June 1, 2020 [13 favorites]
One step closer to the Nutri-Matic.
posted by SansPoint at 10:43 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 10:43 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
HP/MP restored!
...but you're still hungry.
posted by genpfault at 10:45 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
...but you're still hungry.
posted by genpfault at 10:45 AM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
ugh, our phones are already disgusting and covered in germs. can't we wait for the first public health crisis to resolve itself before the teens start licking their internet tide pods?
posted by zsh2v1 at 10:54 AM on June 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by zsh2v1 at 10:54 AM on June 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
This is fascinating! Tech is basically terrible at non-visual information, and anything that improves that is important.
posted by Ahniya at 11:08 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Ahniya at 11:08 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
not_the_water: "When the device is pressed against the tongue"
worst PornHub channel evar
posted by chavenet at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2020
worst PornHub channel evar
posted by chavenet at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2020
Can it reproduce the taste of a 9-volt battery?
From the paper: "A definite metallic taste could be detected from the cathode stimulus, but it was not overwhelming."
posted by mr_roboto at 11:12 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
From the paper: "A definite metallic taste could be detected from the cathode stimulus, but it was not overwhelming."
posted by mr_roboto at 11:12 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
Coronavirus crisis + a device that encourages everyone to lick it. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
posted by Paul Slade at 11:15 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 11:15 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Do the snozzberries taste like snozzberries?
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams
posted by J.K. Seazer at 11:22 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams
posted by J.K. Seazer at 11:22 AM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yes, I was just thinking how a pandemic would be a perfect time to develop new lickable technologies, after exhausting the possibilities of the snortable and huffable.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:33 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
There should be a new word for things like this.
I propose 'corona-styerical'.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:36 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
I propose 'corona-styerical'.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:36 AM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
This is just begging to be put on Kickstarter with a bunch of Stretch Goals. If we raise $100,000, we add a sixth nozzle filled with sriracha! If we raise more, it comes with a kit for making your own toothpaste!
posted by oulipian at 11:45 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by oulipian at 11:45 AM on June 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
"Sadly, little Billy starved to death when the taste nozzles on his HP FlavorJet 2000 became clogged. Don't be a Billy! Run the nozzle cleaning routine before every meal!"
posted by CynicalKnight at 11:53 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by CynicalKnight at 11:53 AM on June 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
In 20 years this gizmo will be available to everybody for the remarkable price of $65, but the refill packs will be $80 each and only last for two months whether or not you use them and if one of the flavors in the pack, like "sweet", runs out or dries up the device beeps angrily at you even if you're only trying to taste saltiness. And there quickly develops a greymarket of third party refill packs complete with chip overrides, but some of them use gelatin rather than agar which leads to a scandal among the Kosher-observant and veg*n communities.
posted by ardgedee at 12:06 PM on June 1, 2020 [31 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 12:06 PM on June 1, 2020 [31 favorites]
Mix this with Soylent Green and you've got a sustainable food suppl.....not supply...
posted by sammyo at 12:12 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 12:12 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
This technology will permanently change how John Waters cinematic oeuvre will be presented to future generations.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:47 PM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:47 PM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
Flavor of the Day: Cat Butt
posted by zengargoyle at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by zengargoyle at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2020
the refill packs will be $80 each and only last for two months whether or not you use them
Look I just use the mono-flavor Sibling model that The 5G-cutter recommends. Never had any problems.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Look I just use the mono-flavor Sibling model that The 5G-cutter recommends. Never had any problems.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:39 PM on June 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Coronavirus crisis + a device that encourages everyone to lick it. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
Well yes, but on the other hand one of the minor symptoms of Covid 19 seems to be a loss of the senses of taste and smell. so there may be a ready-made market for it. I had a thankfully mild dose of what I am pretty certain was The Virus in March, and my sense of smell has pretty much vanished. I can still taste sweet, salt, sour and bitter (i tested this) but nothing has any flavour, which is pretty miserable, and it doesn't sound as if this device would help, even it it didn't sound so revolting.
posted by Fuchsoid at 1:45 PM on June 1, 2020
Well yes, but on the other hand one of the minor symptoms of Covid 19 seems to be a loss of the senses of taste and smell. so there may be a ready-made market for it. I had a thankfully mild dose of what I am pretty certain was The Virus in March, and my sense of smell has pretty much vanished. I can still taste sweet, salt, sour and bitter (i tested this) but nothing has any flavour, which is pretty miserable, and it doesn't sound as if this device would help, even it it didn't sound so revolting.
posted by Fuchsoid at 1:45 PM on June 1, 2020
I don't know about you, but surely this nudges us a little closer to the day we'll all have our consciousness transferred to a black box. Audio, video, taste. Bring on the bold leaps in teledildonics!
posted by elkevelvet at 1:50 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by elkevelvet at 1:50 PM on June 1, 2020
Taste and smell are not treated as important senses, in the way that sight, hearing, and touch are.
Beyond the artistic applications, as we make more and more species of life extinct — some of which we eat — I wonder if some offspring of this synth will find its way into our future food supplies.
Well yes, but on the other hand one of the minor symptoms of Covid 19 seems to be a loss of the senses of taste and smell. so there may be a ready-made market for it.
And the possible clinical aspects of it are interesting, too.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:38 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Beyond the artistic applications, as we make more and more species of life extinct — some of which we eat — I wonder if some offspring of this synth will find its way into our future food supplies.
Well yes, but on the other hand one of the minor symptoms of Covid 19 seems to be a loss of the senses of taste and smell. so there may be a ready-made market for it.
And the possible clinical aspects of it are interesting, too.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:38 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Alas, earwax.
posted by Mchelly at 2:45 PM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 2:45 PM on June 1, 2020 [8 favorites]
I kept thinking about what a mind blowing thing this would be for my dog. Set chocolate to 11.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:58 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:58 PM on June 1, 2020
Ya know, a few years back I made a Nintendo Lickable Screen Display video game console joke idea. (Nintendo LSD) and... yeah. OK, fine I give up. Reality you win again.
posted by symbioid at 3:18 PM on June 1, 2020
posted by symbioid at 3:18 PM on June 1, 2020
Technically, all screens are lickable
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 4:04 PM on June 1, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 4:04 PM on June 1, 2020 [12 favorites]
Technically, all screens are lickable
Bravery is the only roadblock
posted by maxwelton at 4:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Bravery is the only roadblock
posted by maxwelton at 4:28 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Is it a good kisser?
posted by sexyrobot at 5:09 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sexyrobot at 5:09 PM on June 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
That's really cool, but after umami they've discovered a sixth flavor, oleogustus! Without it you'll never be able to simulate bacon because it's the taste of FAT!
posted by Tom-B at 7:53 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Tom-B at 7:53 PM on June 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
oleogustus!
That's it!! I've found my Platonic Ideal of a username! 😍 👍 🌈 🎇 🎉 🏆
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
That's it!! I've found my Platonic Ideal of a username! 😍 👍 🌈 🎇 🎉 🏆
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:01 PM on June 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
oleogustus!
Dom DeLuise played him in History of the World Part I.
posted by condour75 at 1:40 AM on June 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
Dom DeLuise played him in History of the World Part I.
posted by condour75 at 1:40 AM on June 2, 2020 [6 favorites]
oleogustus!
Yes, but is it oLEOgustus or oleoGUStus? And where does one do the wand swoop? Aspiring wizards wish to know!
posted by ninazer0 at 8:21 PM on June 2, 2020
Yes, but is it oLEOgustus or oleoGUStus? And where does one do the wand swoop? Aspiring wizards wish to know!
posted by ninazer0 at 8:21 PM on June 2, 2020
I propose 'corona-styerical'.
🎶 it's like a lickable screen, that's six feet away
Isn't it coronic? Yes, I really do think. 🎶
posted by Sockdown at 10:10 AM on June 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
🎶 it's like a lickable screen, that's six feet away
Isn't it coronic? Yes, I really do think. 🎶
posted by Sockdown at 10:10 AM on June 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
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