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Sweet Dreams Are Made By This

schnoz writes "From Takara, the folks who brought you Bow-Lingual the dog translator, comes the Dream Workshop. Before going to sleep, all you have to do is stare at a photograph of what you want to dream of (Natalie Portman maybe) and record the dream plot. When you fall asleep, this gadget waits for REM and then uses your voice recording, lights, music and aroma to help direct your dream."

49 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Why not... by Ieshan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why not just sell these pre-programmed with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera modules?

    Maybe Thinkgeek could sell a "Natalie Portman in Hot Grits" version?

    1. Re:Why not... by iminplaya · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm getting me a "Linus in speedos" module

      --
      What?
    2. Re:Why not... by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe Thinkgeek could sell a "Natalie Portman in Hot Grits" version?

      They were workin' on it, but the prototypes kept petrifying.

      KFG

    3. Re:Why not... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      it's guaranteed to make you hard.

    4. Re:Why not... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I thought it was a dream machine, not a nightmare factory.

    5. Re:Why not... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Why not just sell these pre-programmed with Britney Spears..."

      Only if it has a mute feature.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    6. Re:Why not... by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 4, Funny

      I went to sleep dreaming of Natalie Portman but I woke up next to Darl McBride. Please kill me now.

    7. Re:Why not... by Maxwell'sSilverLART · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...but I woke up next to Darl McBride.

      Were you bleeding from the rectum?

      --
      Moderate drunk! It's more fun that way!
    8. Re:Why not... by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm terrified in the "holy shit that girl looks like she lives under a bridge and eats children" kind of way. Maybe you're into that.

      -B

  2. heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Linus naked...

    I mean....

  3. Re:Sounds Tempting! by radixvir · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back in the dark ages when I was in college I used to tape lectures and listen to them while I was asleep. Amazing results!

    weird, i fall asleep during lectures all the time, and nothing good has ever come out of it

  4. must be user error by poindextrose · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't wait to see people who screw this one up. The people with pictures of Grandma on their night table.

    --
    Karma: Raspberry Kiwi
  5. Mars by owlstead · · Score: 5, Funny

    I want to have a dream about a trip to mars. Oh, wait...

    1. Re:Mars by Frisky070802 · · Score: 2, Funny

      AAhnold already has this puppy on order. Next time he wants to get it right.

      --
      Mencken had it right. So glad that's old news.
  6. To be used for fun...and evil... by idgrad · · Score: 5, Funny

    You could play some nice pranks with this toy after a scary movie.... aliens perhaps...muhahahahaha

    --
    "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, now would it?' -Albert Einstein-
  7. meh? by devphaeton · · Score: 4, Funny

    "From Takara, the folks who brought you Bow-Lingual the dog translator

    This isn't that email i get 15 times a week proclaiming "Amazing Breakthrough In Software Technology! Turn Woofs into Words! Free Download!" is it?

    stare at a photograph of what you want to dream of (Natalie Portman maybe) and record the dream plot. When you fall asleep, this gadget waits for REM and then uses your voice recording, lights, music and aroma to help direct your dream."

    It's probably not recommended to have a device cooking up some grits when there's no one there to keep an eye on it. But in other news, i did hear that they are selling perfume that smells just like natalie portman!

    --


    do() || do_not(); // try();
    1. Re:meh? by Cosmic_Hippo · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's probably not recommended to have a device cooking up some grits when there's no one there to keep an eye on it.

      Handy grits recipe that doesn't take much time.

      2 cups water
      1 1/4 cups milk
      1 teaspoon salt
      1 cup quick cooking grits, not instant
      1/2 cup butter

      In a small pot, bring water, milk, and salt to a boil. Slowly stir grits into boiling mixture. Stir continuously and thoroughly until grits are well mixed. Let the pot return to a boil, cover pot with a lid, lower the temperature, and cook for approximately 30 minutes stirring occasionally. Add more water if necessary.
      Grits are done when they have the consistency of smooth cream of wheat. Stir in half the butter and serve on Natalie Portman with remaining butter divided equally on top of each portion.

  8. Wet Dreams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But wouldn't it be embarrasing if you died in your sleep and the coroner came to pick up your body a week later with a picture of Oprah beside you, while your voice described your dream date, bow-chicka-bow-bow music played, and musky perfume poured out of this thing?

    1. Re:Wet Dreams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      What would really be embarrassing is if they found you with a picture of Dr. Phil.

  9. This is scary it works so good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Once I dreamt I was falling and it threw me out the window. Then I was floating down a tunnel of light.

  10. I don't know... by iminplaya · · Score: 2, Funny

    if this really works. I used to sleep with the radio tuned to a news station, and I never got the urge to buy any Preparation H or that itch powder (Gold Bond was it?)

    --
    What?
  11. Re:Sounds Tempting! by pantycrickets · · Score: 5, Funny

    weird, i fall asleep during lectures all the time, and nothing good has ever come out of it

    It was me and the professor. Only, he looked different. He had daisy duke shorts on and was carrying a rifle. I approached him, and he spoke.. but I couldn't understand. I think it was another language. When I got closer, I noticed my skin was burning. And then I realized I was covered in fire ants. I jumped off of a cliff towards what looked like a pool of water at the bottom. Only when I hit it, I realized it was a pool of broken glass. I tried as best as I could to swim through the glass, but my skin was literally falling apart.. when I could no longer move, I woke up.

    Needless to say, I failed the exam.

  12. Re:I'm dreaming of... by ixplodestuff8 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine going further, having it teach you programming

    I can see it now, a giant curly brace heading towards my ship, no problem all I have to do is evade it with a counter curly brace to close it. What if I see enemy Function ships?? well obviously I have to organize an army of rouge variables that are incompatible with the Functions to destroy it. But what about the moon-sized DeathStar(); function? THe only way to stop it would to use the new OOP cannon to enclose it inside a Class so it becomes useless...

  13. What I want to see... by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Funny

    I want to see someone hack this and connect it to the web. People could then visit the site and upload their own voice tracks.

    I think that could turn out to be really really amusing, although I fear what would happen if it ever got slashdotted. I'd probably end up with a dream about hanging Gates while doing naughty things with Natalie Portman on top of a beowulf cluster of hot grits while the goatse man and penis bird watch.

  14. Re:dreaming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Increased strength, close combat, martial arts? That's not right!?

    What did I get?

    Advanced knitting.

    -- Demolition Man

  15. Re:dreaming by idiotnot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Isn't that what the cockroach, Milquetoast, in Outland was supposed to be doing by whispering into people's (well, if you consider Bill the Cat a person) ears at night?

    As for me, I normally change my dream input by consuming Tequila before bedtime. It rarely disappoints. :-D

  16. dreams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    if you want to have dirty dreams, do what i do:

    kill kittens for a few months every night, then once in a while dont do it, then you get a very dirty dream (it seems to work for me)

  17. Re:I'm dreaming of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, audio books on programming would be great. Try learning Perl in your sleep, audio only.

    "Okay, now we're going to talk about regular expressions..."

  18. LotR by Arc04 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dream about Lord of the Rings, before you wake up and realise you have just been Tolkien in your sleep.

  19. Re:I'm dreaming of... by OverlordQ · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yess so all code will end up looking something like this.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  20. Sample Usage by Mr.+Darl+McBride · · Score: 2, Funny

    You are now entering a deep sleep [Buy Bowlingual]... you are completely at rest... [Bowlingual is NOT funny]... Natalie portman is coming to you... she is smiling [SCO is in Linux]... she would like you to touch her... [she would like you to make her wear a Bowlingual collar]

  21. Re:Lucid Dreaming is Cheaper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    a Godzilla [godzilla.co.jp]-like breath weapon!

    Eat garlic and don't clean your teeth for a few weeks and you can have this weapon in real life !!, repels girls , pushy sales assistants in fact anyone near you will instantly repelled as soon as you let rip with a huff

  22. Choice quote from article... by mbessey · · Score: 2, Funny

    "We are still experimenting, mainly with company employees," Takara marketing executive Kenji Hattori told reporters in Tokyo yesterday.

    I mean, after all, it's just a device to program your unconscious mind. What could possibly go wrong?

    Quick, somebody call Michael Crichton!

    -Mark

  23. Ethical Concerns by Becho62282 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Has any one thought of the ethical issues that could arise from this. Directing ones dreams sounds neat and all, but what if the person that you direct in your dreams has told you not to, or they have some kind of restraining order on you.

    Sure these are your dreams and controlling them I guess should be your option, but when do you cross the line? Do you need to get permission from people to use them in your dream if it's directed. I don't think they can do anything in a normal dream, but when things are pre meditated does that change things?

    I would honestly think that if the average person got a hold of this they could use it for ill. I know that I don't want people dreaming about me without my permission.

    One final thought, how would this work if a person has purposefully violent dreams. Has a dream about killing people for instance, would this be allowed into court, and if so would it count as premeditation.

    As techs we may think it cool to make our dreams be what we want them to be, but we do have to worry about this at the ethical / legal level.

    Oh and for the person wanting to know how much that is in dollars 138.486.

  24. that is so f***ing stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This has got to be the most idiotic thing I've ever read on slashdot. Or, anywhere.

    I know that I don't want people dreaming about me without my permission.

  25. I just hope it's not powered by windows ce.net... by Stevyn · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...or whatever the hell it's called now. I'll end up patching it in my dreams. Imagine, my perfect dream is about to come true and just before it does, "windows update is ready to install..." Then again, if it were run by linux, I'd get an error message of "this dreams requires the package lib.so.4.508 to continue." Either way, this ain't going to work the way it's advertised.

    On a serious note, google up lucid dreaming and read about it. It actually works. Years ago I tried to make one of these things by having a bunch of LED's blink rapidly. It didn't work, but it was a neat form of meditation. But seriously, there's nothing like a lucid dream.

  26. Videodrome quote by xtrucial · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Time to slowly, painfully ease yourself back into consciousness."

  27. Re:dreaming by marvin2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sneak up on your victim and keep the plot but replace Natalie Portman with Ron Jeremy. 8P

  28. Interesting... by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 2, Funny


    this gadget waits for REM


    I was unaware that Michael Stipe was an afficianado of hot grits.
    --
    "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
  29. Re:FAG by Lord+Kano · · Score: 3, Funny

    96% of the people I see on a day to day basis are male. Either there is a conspericy at work here or I chose the wrong damn profession.

    Well, working in the gay porno section of the newsstand would probably be the reason why you see so few women.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  30. I'm sure they would find higher demand for... by RhettLivingston · · Score: 2, Funny

    a wife translator :o)

  31. Obligatory Simpsons Quote by ath0mic · · Score: 3, Funny


    Marge: Homer, has the weight loss tape reduced your appetite?

    Homer: Ah, lamentably no. My gastronomic rapacity knows no satieties.

  32. the worst nightmare by WormholeFiend · · Score: 5, Funny

    would be if you put images of the goatse.cx in the dream machine.

    i swear if someone did that to my machine, i d use a hot iron to brand -1 Troll on his forehead

  33. Barring anything else... by Thedalek · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd like to see a movie based on the development of this product. According to the article, they are experimenting on a number of company employees, which means a Takara employee's journal could easily read like a crash course in the Twilight Zone.

    Then again, the employees already live in Japan, home of used panty vending machines. For the curious, the cost is supposedly 1000 per pair.

    I now await a slew of replies from pseudo-clever /.ers saying "That's it, I'm moving to Japan!" or equivalent phrases.

    --
    Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
  34. Yeh! by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I used to get a kick out of getting guys to squirm when I lived in San Francisco with my girlfriend. Guys who only heard I was single would look at me weird, like I was contagious, and I'd just laugh, tell them that I loved it there, with so many gays it left more women for me, and they got really upset when I said they must be closet gays because real heterosexual males would rejoice at taking so many good looking sensitive guys out of competition for the women.

  35. Re:FAG by binarybum · · Score: 2, Funny

    true, there is lore of this unconfirmed rumor, but saying that "it's very possible" defies probability.

    by an exageration of the same magnitude I could very possibly wake up next to nat. portman in the morning after such a dream.

    --
    ôó
  36. Re:Lucid Dreaming is Cheaper by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Funny
    "While this is admittedly pretty geeky, I can say that here without being laughed at (right?) because we're all geeks. "

    No.....no you can't.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  37. Re:I'm dreaming of... by Loki_1929 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "It's interesting that after having to lucid dream for 3 months straight,"

    Being unconscious for that amount of time isn't called sleeping - it's called being in a coma. ;)

    --
    -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
  38. Re:mod parent up for poster having balls. by qeveren · · Score: 2, Funny

    I dunno... though I'm Canadian, and currently dating another guy, I still quite cheerfully call things I don't like 'gay'. :)

    Mind, I'm a member of that most feared and hated group of people, the bisexuals, who are reviled by both the homo- and heterosexual communities. Probably because we keep trying to steal all the cute girls AND the cute guys. :D

    --
    Don't just stand there, get that other dog!