Japanese toy maker invents 'dream machine'

A Japanese toy company says it has developed a gadget that will enable people to control their dreams.

A Japanese toy company says it has developed a gadget that will enable people to control their dreams.

Takara has come up with the Yumemi Kobo, or Dream Workshop, which it claims can put people in charge of their dreams.

To work the gadget, the owner has to stare at a photograph of what they would like to dream about and then record, in their own words, how the dream is supposed to pan out.

Once users are sleeping, the gadget apparently goes to work by combining the voice recording, lights, music and aromas to stimulate sleepers whenever it detects rapid eye movement - a sign that someone is dreaming.

Eight hours later, users are gently awakened by soft lighting and music to ensure that pleasant memories of the night before are not instantly erased.

But Takara says it cannot guarantee complete customer satisfaction. "We are still experimenting, mainly with company employees," said marketing executive Kenji Hattori.

The gadget will go on sale in the spring at 14,800 yen (€110), reports the Guardian.

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