Professor Creates Lickable TV Screen That Can Imitate Food Flavours

A Japanese inventor has created a lickable TV screen so you can taste what you’re looking at - I reckon Willy Wonka would be proud. You can see a little clip of the machine in action here: 

The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), has a carousel that holds 10 spray flavour canisters that will spray out in different combinations to create different flavours, clever, eh? 

The flavour sample is then rolled on a hygiene film over a screen where the viewer can give it a taste. 

Homei Miyashita, a professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, who worked on the device said it could come in handy while people are stuck at home during the pandemic by allowing them to have a taste of something ‘on the other side of the world’, the Guardian reports. 

He explained: “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.”

Meiji University in Tokyo

The current TTTV is just a prototype, but Miyashita reckons a commercial version would cost about £653 (100,000 yen) to make. An absolute bargain, if you ask me. 

A 22-year-old Meiji University student, who gave the machine a go to demonstrate how it works, told the device she wanted chocolate.

The machine then confirmed what she wanted and set about spraying it with the special flavour canisters. 

And it’s fair to say the student was impressed. She said: “It’s kind of like milk chocolate. 

“It’s sweet like a chocolate sauce.”

Meiji University in Tokyo

The machine could also be used to allow distance learning of sommeliers and cooks. 

The professor worked alongside a team of around 30 students to create all manner of items designed to make eating a more enjoyable experience, such as a fork that makes your food taste richer. Sign me right up for a dozen of them. 

He’s also been in talks with various companies about potentially using the flavour sprays to give a boost to a boring slice of bread, by, for example, making it taste like pizza or chocolate.

Someone needs to get this man a knighthood.

Topics: Food And Drink

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]