Virtual Lemonade

Overview

A novel methodology to digitally share the flavor experience of a glass of lemonade (or other similar beverages) remotely.

Key Problem(s)

Social sharing of beverages is a common practice among friends and loved ones. However, thus far, it has not been possible to digitally share beverages remotely, for example, over the internet. The main challenges are subjectivity of human taste perception, the need of complex sensing technologies, and impracticalities of transferring or storing chemical in an interactive system.

Objective

Virtual Lemonade aims to enable remote sharing of a glass of lemonade or similar beverages by sensing, communicating, and simulating its flavor information digitally.

Solution

The proposed method utilizes a sensor to capture valuable information (primarily, the color and the corresponding pH value) of the lemonade and a customized tumbler to digitally simulate these properties using plain water. Thus, the system consists of three main components:

1. The lemonade sensor
2. The communication protocol
3. A customized tumbler, acting as the lemonade simulator

Deployment and Usage

Virtual Lemonade was showcased at the following locations:

• KMD Forum 2017
• TEI 2017

Publications and Press

Publications:

• [TEI '17] Virtual Lemonade: Let's Teleport Your Lemonade!

Patents:

• [US Provisional Patent No. 62/472,777] Augmenting Flavors with Virtual Taste, Smell, and Color Sensations

Media Mentions:

• [New Scientist] Virtual lemonade sends colour and taste to a glass of water
• [Engadget] You can share the taste of lemonade through the internet
• [Edgy Labs] One Step Closer to Smell-O-Vision with Virtual Lemonade
• [Futurism] Now, You Can Send Lemonade Over the Internet
• [Wccftech] You Can Now Taste and Share Virtual Lemonade through Internet
• [BBC World Service - The Newsroom] Sipping on virtual lemonade, has the future arrived?
• [Science Mag] Are we about to start sharing taste through the internet?
• [Fox News - Tech] Scientists demonstrated how you can send lemonade over the internet
• [HowStuffWorks] Researchers 'Teleport' Virtual Lemonade Using Sensors and Bluetooth
• [New York Post] App can transfigure water into lemonade using the power of the internet
• [News.com.au] You can send lemonade over the internet now, because science
• [Reuters] Singapore researchers turn water into 'virtual lemonade' but is it tart enough?
• [The Straits Times] Singapore researchers turn water into 'lemonade'

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Team Members