wanna taste in online??

reported from SINGAPORE: we are in the virtual world and what more is not possible????

A team led by Nimesha Ranasinghe, an engineer of Sri Lankan origin at the Keio-NUS Cute Center in Singapore, has invented a simulator that can let you taste your favorite food online. For free, literally. There was a study made on this particular topic for a longer time.He has quoted as"This simulator generates signals transmitted through a silver electrode, touching the tip of the tongue, to produce salty, sweet, sour and bitter sensations. By combining different levels of electrical currents and varying the temperature of the electrode, simulation of the tastes can be reproduced," said Ranasinghe in a press release issued by National University of Singapore. 

The team has worked on this study to develop a taste over the IP for taste messaging-a a data format that facilitates the delivery of information on recreating the different tastes via electrode. 

To achieve this feat, scientists reported sour, salty and bitter sensations from electrical stimulation while minty, spicy and sweet sensations were reported through thermal stimulation on two separate group of individuals. 
The group that has thermal stimulation represented minor sensations, requiring further work to intensify the tastes. 
In a press meet released"This work has three novel aspects - the studying of the electronic simulation and control of taste sensations achievable through Digital Taste Interface against the properties of current and change in temperature; the method of actuating taste sensations by electrical and thermal stimulation methods, either individually or in combination; and the aim of introducing a practical solution to implement virtual taste interactions in interactive computing systems," said the release. 
The simulator can also work for those having health problems.For instance, diabetics could use the device for a taste of sweetness without affecting their blood sugar levels. 

This is just a leap in the technology.Lot more to go.who  knows in the future years even eating food through online will not surprise people!!!