TagCandy Uses Augmented Reality to Change the Way we Eat Candy [Video]

Engineering students at Keio University's Yasuaki Kakehi Laboratory in Japan have set their sights on candy. Using a sort of augmented reality, based on sound and sensors, the students have created a new way for people to eat, and enjoy, candy. With a demonstration on video, the students have high hopes for their device, which can give you the sensation of biting into an apple the next time you put a sucker in your mouth.

The device isn't the smallest. The students are calling it the TagCandy system, and it works by sticking an actual sucker into the device. Once it is there, the sensors work together with the speakers to bring a whole new experience. As soon as the candy touches your tongue, the system will then kick in, and a vibration speaker will start the sensation of your choice. For example, other than the apple mentioned above, the system can give you the sensation of drinking a carbonated drink, or even fireworks going off in your mouth.

When you bite into the sucker, bone conduction technology will give you other, unique sounds as well. The students aren't finished aiming high, though. Their next trick is to make a sucker that doesn't normally taste like anything, taste like whatever you want it to, based on the same technology. They envision people sharing their flavors online, too. Check out the video below to see the system in action.

[via OhGizmo!]