Brief Summary
This video explores "mocktail," a device that digitally augments flavor by adding different smells, tastes, and visuals to change the flavor profile of a drink. The device uses LED lights for visual cues, micro air pumps to deliver scents, and electrodes to provide micro-ampere currents that alter taste perceptions. It can create familiar flavors from simple ingredients or combine unusual tastes for complex experiences. The technology has potential applications in bars for on-the-fly drink customization and in health for low-sodium diets, where it can replace the missing flavor of salt with digital taste sensations and smells.
- The "mocktail" device enhances the flavor of drinks using digital augmentation.
- It combines visual, olfactory, and gustatory stimuli to alter flavor perception.
- Potential applications include customized bar experiences and health-focused flavor enhancement.
Introduction to Mocktail
The "mocktail" is a device designed to digitally augment flavor. It works by adding different smells, taste sensations, and visuals to completely change the flavor profile of a base liquid like sage in soda water. The goal is to provide a customizable and enhanced sensory experience when consuming beverages.
Components and Functionality
The device consists of three main components. First, an LED light at the top provides visual cues, influencing the user's preconception of the flavor. Second, three micro air pumps in the base push scented smells through the device to a top vent, delivering different flavor profiles to the user's nose. Third, a digital taste interface with two electrodes on the front provides a micro-ampere current that runs through the user's taste buds, altering their perception of taste.
Flavor Creation and Possibilities
The device can create a range of flavor experiences. It can transform soda water into something similar to lemonade by adding a lemonade smell, a yellow color, and a sour taste. Alternatively, it can create complex and unusual cocktail combinations, such as gin with orange, sand pepper, and ginger, to produce strong and layered tastes.
User Experience and Perception
One user noted that knowing the drink was just water made the experience feel somewhat artificial. However, they believed that someone unaware of this might not realize they were only drinking water. The smell significantly influenced the perceived taste, with the user particularly noticing a strong coriander flavor, highlighting the psychological impact of the device.
Potential Applications
The device has several potential applications. In a bar setting, it could change the taste of a drink on the fly, allowing customers to customize their beverages or sample different menu items before ordering. For health applications, it could be used in low-sodium diets to replace the missing flavor of salt with digital taste sensations and smells, enhancing the palatability of food and drinks.
