Squirty Gels Introduces Food-Inspired Flavors to Virtual Reality

Chemicals: Substances composed of two or more atoms that bond in fixed proportions and structures. For instance, water is a chemical formed when two hydrogen atoms bond with one oxygen atom, represented by the formula H₂O. The term also describes the properties of materials, resulting from various reactions among different compounds.

Edible: Safe for consumption.

Electricity: The flow of electrical charge resulting from the movement of negatively charged particles, commonly known as electrons.

Engineer: Individuals who apply science and mathematics to address problems. As a verb, it refers to the act of designing a device, material, or process to solve specific issues or meet unmet needs.

Flavor: A distinctive combination of sensations that aids in the recognition of substances that enter the mouth, primarily informed by how food and drinks are sensed by the mouth’s cells. Factors such as smell, appearance, or texture may also have an impact.

Gel: A thick, viscous material that can flow like a dense liquid.

Generation: A cohort of individuals (across any species) born around the same time or regarded as a single group. Your parents, for instance, belong to one generation, while your grandparents belong to another. Additionally, everyone within a few years of your age is considered part of the same human generation. The term can extend to various yearly classes of animals and types of inanimate objects, such as electronic devices and cars.

Glucose: A simple sugar that serves as a vital energy source for living organisms. Commonly known as “blood sugar,” it circulates through the bloodstream. Table sugar (sucrose) is composed of half a glucose molecule.

Glutamic acid: The salt form of glutamic acid; glutamate plays a critical role in the brain as a molecule responsible for transmitting signals between cells.

Immersive: An adjective describing computer-generated experiences that integrate into a virtual environment. Typically created through headsets that offer a 3D display (or near-3D imaging) that adapts as the user moves. Users often select avatars to navigate the environment and can reach out to interact with it, simulating real-life experiences.

Machine Learning: Computer science methodologies that enable machines to learn from examples and experiences. This forms the basis of several artificial intelligence (AI) applications. For instance, machine learning systems can analyze X-rays of lung tissue from cancer patients and assess correlations with treatment outcomes. In the future, AI technologies may analyze new patients’ lung scans to predict treatment responses.

Molecule: An electrically neutral cluster of atoms embodying a specific quantity of a compound. Molecules can consist of a single type of atom or multiple types. For example, oxygen can be found as two oxygen atoms (O₂), while water is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H₂O).

Sensation: The awareness of something, or the process of recognizing it through sensory experiences.

Range: The complete spectrum or distribution of something, such as a range of flora and fauna within a natural habitat.

Sensor: Structures utilized by organisms (in biology) to perceive environmental factors like heat, wind, chemicals, moisture, injury, and predator threats.

I’ll simulate it: To deceive by mimicking a particular form or function. For example, simulated fats can trick the mouth into perceiving real fats due to their similar feel, all without the calories. Simulated tactile sensations can mislead the brain into believing that fingers are touching something, despite the absence of real hands replaced by synthetic limbs.

Sodium: A soft, silver-colored metallic element that reacts explosively with water. It is also a fundamental component of table salt (comprised of sodium and chlorine atoms, NaCl).

System: A collection of components working collaboratively to serve a particular function. For example, the core elements of the human circulatory system include blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Similarly, rail networks might consist of trains, platforms, trucks, road signals, and overpasses. The term can also apply to processes or concepts involved in executing tasks or organized sequences of steps.

Taste: The ability to perceive flavors using taste receptors (taste buds) on the tongue and other organs, one of the primary means by which the body interacts with its environment, particularly in relation to food.

Technology: The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, leading to advancements in industry or the creation of devices, processes, and systems as a result of such efforts.

I’m gonna: One of the five primary tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter). It has its own unique flavor profile, though many find it challenging to describe this mild taste, which is especially valued in Japanese cuisine.

Virtual Reality: A highly realistic 3D simulation of the real world that enables user interaction. Typically, users don special headsets or glasses equipped with sensors to engage with this environment.