The future is already within reach. Imagine closing your eyes and inhaling the scent of a forest during a video call or feeling the texture of a jumper before purchasing it online. What if virtual restaurants allowed you to taste a dish before placing an order?

These once-unthinkable ideas are now the promise of the Internet of Senses, an evolution in digital connectivity that aims to take immersion beyond sight and sound, engaging touch, taste, and smell. But how does this new paradigm function, and what impact will it have on our lives?

The Internet of Senses refers to the digitalisation and transmission of sensory experiences over networks. Beyond audio and video, this technology seeks to replicate touch, smell, and taste in virtual environments, enabling more natural and immersive interactions.

Several technological advancements are converging to make the Internet of Senses a reality, fundamentally transforming the way we engage with the digital world.

5G networks, and the anticipated arrival of 6G, form the backbone of this ecosystem, facilitating the real-time transmission of vast amounts of data with imperceptible latency—crucial for creating smooth and natural sensory experiences.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning play a pivotal role in analysing and processing complex sensory data. Advanced algorithms can replicate realistic sensations and personalise experiences, learning specific tactile response patterns or adjusting the intensity of stimuli according to individual preferences.

Brain-computer interfaces represent perhaps the most revolutionary advancement, directly linking the human brain with digital devices. This technology not only enables users to control virtual environments through thought but also allows the brain to receive digital signals interpreted as real sensations.

Extended reality, integrating augmented, virtual, and mixed reality, is redefining the boundary between the physical and digital worlds. This convergence of technologies creates immersive spaces where users interact with virtual objects as if they were tangible, further blurring the lines between the two realms.

Biometric sensors and haptic devices serve as the physical interface of this new digital paradigm. From haptic gloves that simulate the texture of different surfaces to devices that convey temperature or pressure sensations, these innovations transform digital data into tangible experiences.

A World of Sensations

By 2030, the Internet of Senses is set to redefine our digital experiences, turning every interaction into a multisensory event that will dissolve the barriers between the virtual and the physical. While still in its early stages, this technology will not only change how we perceive the digital world but will also revolutionise entire industries.

Future video games will be experienced not just through sight and sound but also through touch. Several companies are already developing advanced haptic gloves that allow players to feel different textures and temperatures within virtual environments.

In e-commerce, the Internet of Senses will transform online shopping. Some brands have already explored digital fragrance-testing devices, and in the future, consumers may even be able to feel the softness of a garment before purchasing it.

In healthcare, telemedicine will undergo a profound transformation. Doctors will be able to diagnose patients remotely with devices that replicate the sensation of touching organs or tissues, enhancing the accuracy of virtual medical examinations. Additionally, this technology could enable amputees to regain a sense of touch through prosthetics equipped with sensory feedback.

Education will also be revolutionised, allowing students to experience history by touching virtual artefacts or practise surgery in realistic digital environments that replicate the sensation of human tissue—enhancing professional training in medicine and engineering.

In social networks and digital communication, interactions will become more lifelike. Prototypes are already in development that enable users to send digital touch sensations, introducing new ways of fostering emotional connections across distances.

American expert Adrian Cheok has pioneered a chip that enables remote tasting by stimulating taste receptors through electrical impulses.

Meanwhile, a research team in Lausanne has developed a bionic fingertip that allows users to perceive shapes and textures. Connected to the nerves in the arm, the device’s sensors generate electrical signals that the nervous system interprets as real tactile sensations.

Cosmetics giant Sephora is already leveraging augmented reality to let customers virtually try on different makeup shades.

The future is drawing us closer to a world where we will share not just images and sounds but complete sensory experiences, fundamentally transforming how we connect, learn, and engage with the digital realm.

Perceiving the Challenges

While the Internet of Senses offers exciting possibilities, it also presents critical challenges that require urgent attention from industry leaders, policymakers, and society as a whole.

Privacy and security are major concerns, as sensory data is far more intimate and personal than conventional digital information. How will we protect highly sensitive data, such as our tactile responses or sensory behaviour patterns? Current cybersecurity frameworks must evolve to safeguard this new dimension of personal data.

Sensory manipulation poses another significant challenge, with implications extending beyond traditional marketing. The ability to directly influence sensory perceptions could be exploited in areas such as subliminal advertising, political propaganda, or social engineering. This highlights the pressing need for robust ethical and regulatory frameworks to prevent misuse.

Accessibility and cost considerations raise concerns about digital equity. There is a real risk that the Internet of Senses will deepen existing digital divides, creating a new gap between those with access to full sensory digital experiences and those limited to basic interactions.

Additionally, the infrastructure required to support these technologies demands substantial investment in high-speed networks and specialised devices, potentially limiting adoption in less developed regions.

Senses That Enhance

Although the large-scale transmission of scents and tastes over the internet remains experimental, current advancements suggest that these technologies will become as commonplace as video calls within the next decade.

The coming five to ten years will be decisive, with the introduction of commercial applications set to reshape key sectors of the digital economy.

The question is no longer whether this revolution will take place, but how we will adapt to a world where the boundary between the digital and the tangible becomes ever more indistinct. The future will not only be seen and heard—it will be felt.