Today's VR technology primarily engages sight and hearing, with touch incorporated to a lesser degree through haptic controllers or vests. In contrast, the simulation of smell and taste remains largely unexplored and the focus of ongoing research.
A group of researchers has unveiled a device the size and shape of a lollipop that produces nine different flavors: sugar, salt, citric acid, cherry, passion fruit, green tea, milk, durian, and grapefruit. By combining this with a visual illusion in virtual reality, the researchers hope to trick the brain successfully into thinking it is tasting the real thing.
The flavors are produced by chemicals embedded in a pocket of agarose gel, writes IEEE Spectrum. When a voltage is applied to the gel, the chemicals are transported to the surface in a liquid that then mixes with saliva on the tongue, just like a real lollipop. If the voltage is increased, the taste gets stronger.
Could lead to further development in VR scent which would actually be very cool. Not sure I'd want to play a game with an electronic lollipop in my mouth or nose or anything but it's still cool tech