Yumemi Kobo

Yumemi Kōbō (夢見 工房) is a device sold by the Japanese company Takara Toys that is claimed to be able to induce lucid dreams.

Measuring some 35 inches in height, the device is equipped with a picture frame, a voice recorder, a timer, a fragrance dispenser, musical recordings and speakers. This assortment of components is claimed to be able to induce a dream about a pre-selected theme while the user sleeps; it periodically activates in concert with the user's rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages. A Wired News report described the method of operation [1]:

First, users attach a photograph or image of a desired dream to the Yumemi Kobo. Then the hopeful dreamers concentrate on the image, playing out the desired dream in their head while making a voice recording of key words describing their fantasy. Next they insert one of the dream machine's scents in the fragrance dispenser and select accompanying music from the tracks offered in the device's database.

...Now the dreamers are ready to hit the sack. They turn on the dream machine, and it starts to lull them to sleep with soft lights and serenades. During the next eight hours, while the Yumemi Kobo's owner snoozes, the device is set to activate periodically in accordance with the user's REM sleep, the period associated with dreaming, during which the sleeper's eyeballs jerk rapidly.

The manufacturer claims that the recommended fragrance and music selections are based on sleep research—"there is a logic behind the selections". It nevertheless will not guarantee satisfactory outcomes to its customers.[2]