New technologies constantly reshape the world around us. Just look at how much augmented and virtual reality have changed entertainment, healthcare, education and various fields of business. And the impact of these technologies continues to extend to more aspects of our lives. The next frontier to be conquered will be the food industry.
Augmented and Virtual Reality Redefine How We Relate to Food
There are not many aspects of our lives we pay more attention to than the food we eat. Whether we eat vegan or paleo, or prefer comfort food to a strict diet, we all try to blend nutrition with good taste and refined flavors.
Trying new foods is always a challenge, especially if those foods come from distant, foreign cuisines. This is where augmented and virtual reality may help smooth the cultural differences and help us embrace new dishes. By learning in a holographic experience how ingredients are grown and sourced, as well as how they are cooked and how locals enjoy a specific food, we will become more inclined to give new things a try.
Food Producers Can Build Trust by Sharing VR Tours of Their Facilities
Words are no longer sufficient to win people’s trust when it comes to the ethical sourcing of ingredients and food safety. Videos shot in farms and food production facilities are more convincing. But what if people could take a virtual walk-through of such facilities, taking a close look at each piece of equipment and each phase of the manufacturing process?
Tequila manufacturer Patron has already taken this bold step. The company recently launched a 360-degree video showing the entire tequila manufacturing process, from harvesting the agave plant to bottling the drink.
AR Helps People Avoid Overeating
A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity showed that augmented reality can be used to estimate adequate portion size. Using an app named ServAR, the participants were able to pick correct food servings, and avoid piling up the plates with too much food.
While this app is in the experimental stage and not available to the general public, we are confident that this trend will catch on and we will soon be able to create healthy and nutritious meals to serve to our families using augmented reality.
Learn How to Cook With Virtual Reality
Virtual reality 360-degree movies will change the way we try new recipes. This Banoffee recipe, for example, is presented in a 3D model where people can manipulate its various ingredients and layers and learn how to assemble the dish in a safe and relaxed environment.
VR cooking will certainly encourage more people to learn to cook their favorite dishes at home. They will be able to try things as many times as they need to, without wasting valuable ingredients and without leaving their family wondering what’s for dinner.
Safe Training for Chefs and Other Employees in the Food Industry
Operating complex and modern food preparation equipment requires a lot of training. From high-tech espresso machines, which are able to create complex latte art and perfect coffee, to state-of-the-art kitchen equipment in restaurants, foodservice equipment cannot be operated well without many hours of training. For example, this Daydream Lab VR presentation shows baristas how to use an espresso machine (the presentation is still in its prototype phase).
In real life, this type of training leads to accidents. But in augmented and virtual reality, the trainees will manipulate CGI objects, without any danger of getting hurt or of hurting someone else. And, without a doubt, these chef training apps will also expand to the general consumer market, allowing anybody to develop their cooking skills and avoid accidents at home.
