TECH/ TREND SPECIAL.. Computers of the future to smell touch taste and hear

Computers of the future to smell  touch taste and hear     In the future, computing devices will push further into the senses by developing capacities to mimic the ability to see, smell, touch, taste and hear.     Computers may be able to use algorithms to determine the precise chemical structure of food and why people like certain tastes.     “Not only will it make healthy foods more palatable — it will also surprise us with unusual pairings of foods actually designed to maximize our experience of taste and flavour,” said a spokesperson for a computing computing giant that is behind these innovations.     It is also predicted that soon, tiny sensors embedded in computers or cellphones will detect if someone is coming down with a cold or other illness, by analysing odours, biomarkers and thousands of molecules in someone’s breath. These tools will also help doctors diagnose and monitor the onset of ailments such as liver and kidney disorders, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.     In the future, new tactile, infrared and pressure sensitive technologies will allow people to simulate touch, such as the texture and weave of a fabric, over a mobile device. Computers are also developing improved capacities to detect and analyse sounds.     Within five years, a distributed system of clever sensors will also be able to detect elements of sound such as sound pressure, vibrations and sound waves.     AFP BT121219