MHFI 2020 - Eating like an astronaut.pdf (5.8 MB)
Eating like an astronaut: how children are willing to eat “flying” food using acoustic levitation
conference contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 20:49 authored by Chi Thanh ViChi Thanh Vi, Asier Marzo, Dmitrijs DmitrenkoDmitrijs Dmitrenko, Martin YeomansMartin Yeomans, Marianna ObristHow food is presented and eaten influences the eating experience. Novel gustatory interfaces have opened up new ways for eating at the dining table. For example, recent developments in acoustic technology have enabled the transportation of food and drink in mid-air, directly into the user's tongue. Basic taste particles like sweet, bitter and umami have higher perceived intensity when delivered with acoustic levitation, and are perceived as more pleasant despite their small size (approx. 20 L or 4mm diameter droplets). However, it remains unclear if users are ready to accept this delivery method at the dining table. Sixty-nine children aged 14 to 16 years did a taste test of 7 types of foods and beverages, using two delivery methods: acoustic levitation, and knife and fork (traditional way). Children were divided into two groups: one group was shown a video demonstrating how levitating food can be eaten before the main experiment whereas the other group was shown the videos after. Our results showed no significant differences in liking of the foods and beverages between the two delivery methods. However, playing the video prior to the test significantly increased the liking and willingness to eat vegetables in the levitation method. Evaluative feedback suggested that a bigger portion size of levitating foods could be the game-changer to integrate this novel technology into real-life eating experiences.
Funding
Why some foods smell sweet: the neural-basis of odour-taste associations; G2369; LEVERHULME TRUST; RPG-2018-068
Levitate; EUROPEAN UNION; 737087
SenseX - Sensory Experiences for Interactive Technologies; G1589; EUROPEAN UNION; H2020-ERC-2014-STG-638605
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Companion Publication of the 2020 International Conference on Multimodal InteractionPublisher
Association for Computing MachineryExternal DOI
Page range
341-347Event name
4th Workshop on Multisensory Approaches to Human-Food InteractionEvent location
Virtual event, NetherlandsEvent type
workshopEvent date
October 25th, 2020Place of publication
New York, NY, United StatesISBN
9781450380027Department affiliated with
- Informatics Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Creative Technology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes