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Virtual Reality & Food: How VR Influences our Sense of Taste


When the team at Maverick VR isn't providing events, trade shows, and conferences with virtual reality booths and VR rentals nationwide, we love reading up on the latest and greatest virtual reality news.

Most recently, we stumbled upon a new study conducted by researchers at Cornell University, in which their scientists discovered that 'what' we taste when we eat -is heavily influenced by 'where' we have our meals. How were they able to test this? With VR booths.

A Couple Wearing VR Headsets Enjoying The Experience

You may be familiar with the notion that our sense of taste is intertwined with our sense of smell, but our taste also seems to be influenced by other sensory inputs - like what we see.

"When we eat, we perceive not only just the taste and aroma of foods; we get sensory input from our surroundings - our eyes, ears, even our memories about surroundings", explains senior author, Robin Dando.

Cornell researchers asked 50 individuals to participate in this VR experiment. Using VR booths, subjects were put in three different environments: a cow barn, a sensory booth, and a park bench. Within each one of these, the subjects were all given the same sample of cheese. However, the individuals were unaware that they were given the same type of cheese within each VR experience. After eating the cheese within the environments, the panelists were asked to rate the pungency of the cheese. Results showed that within the cow barn setting, the pungency was rated significantly higher than in the sensory booth or the virtual park bench.

A Business Man In An Office Wearing An HTC Vive Headset

That means, cheese tastes better in a virtual farm when compared to the two other virtual environments. Crazy stuff! It should be noted, the researchers explained, that the purpose of the study wasn't necessary to confirm whether or not virtual reality makes food taste better, but rather if VR could potentially be used by manufactures, in which they could have people try foods in different environments without having to physically send people to these different places (it can get expensive!). Since food tastes different in different environments and since VR has the ability to immediately transport people anywhere in the world, it means that VR can be used as a cost-effective way to send people to different places!

Speaking of food, below we've listed some of our clients' favorite food-themed virtual reality booths.

The Cooking Game VR

You're a fry cook! Prepare as many hamburgers, hot-dogs, and fries as fast as you can. They don't call it fast food for anything! If you're too slow, your customers may start getting upset. Enjoy the fun and excitement of preparing fast food in this colorful and energizing VR experience.

Cooking Game VR

Have you ever wanted to live out your dreams of being a chef? Now you can. In the Diner Duo, you must satisfy your customers in a limited amount of time. Each level gets harder and faster...

Dinner Duo VR Game

The possibilities are endless with virtual reality booths and VR rentals, whether you are looking for a food-inspired virtual reality booth, or anything else. Be free to send us a message if you are interested in learning more about our services; we'd love to chat!

 

Looking to add a unique, immersive, and exciting new experience to your event? Skip the boring photo booth and choose an amazing experience that your guests will be talking about for years to come with virtual reality!

Click here to watch a video and see what guests think of Maverick VR:

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