A piece of paper not much larger than a silver dollar, which was created by a team of researchers at an Illinois University, has the human ability to differentiate between sweetness, saltiness, sourness, bitterness, and savoriness. A variety of different-colored gel pigments are dotted onto the paper and work together to unlock the different tastes.
Future uses for the electronic tongue could be "a kind of breathalyzer that could detect harmful bacteria, and biomolecules, which could provide people with an early warning of diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer." Fascinating!
Tastetastic Technology
Electronic Tongue Has a Distinguished 5-Flavor Palate
Trend Themes
1. Electronic Tongue - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Development of advanced diagnostic tools for detecting diseases based on taste.
2. Flavor Differentiation - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creation of personalized food products and flavor-enhancing technologies.
3. Bioanalytical Sensors - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integration of electronic taste sensors into wearable health monitoring devices.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integration of electronic tongue technology into diagnostic and early detection systems.
2. Food and Beverage - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implementation of electronic taste sensors in food processing and quality control.
3. Wearable Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Application of electronic taste sensors in health monitoring wearables.