Anicet Mbida 06:52, 24 April 2023

Anicet Mbida gives us every morning what is best in innovation.

The innovation of the day is a new kind of help to fall asleep. After the sleeping pill, here is the "sleeping pill robot".

A mechanical sleeping pill that puts us to sleep and with which we do not risk becoming addicted to pills.

How does it work? You have to imagine a large bean-shaped cushion with a mechanism inside that inflates and deflates it as if breathing. It turns out that by holding it against you, our breathing will unconsciously settle on the rhythm of the cushion. As a result, we will breathe more peacefully, calm down, doze off and, in principle, fall asleep more easily.

It's a bit like being rocked somehow...

Exactly! When we were little, it was our parents who rocked us. There, it is a robotic cushion to which we will give a big hug. It is true that having a presence in bed can promote falling asleep. Just look at the children: they like to fall asleep on their parents because they feel less alone and they are soothed by their breathing and heartbeat. It's a bit the same thing, with this cushion: a kind of giant blanket for adults. Inside, there's even a nightmare detector. As soon as you get agitated, it will change rhythm and play relaxing sounds to maximize the comforting effect.

Two models are available on the market. That of the Dutch of SomNox in the shape of a bean. And that of the Japanese of Fufuly which looks like a big cloud.

We know if it's really as effective as sleeping pills?

So, I admit, I didn't try. But it looks pretty serious since they are in partnership with several sleep institutes, both in the Netherlands and Japan. A clinical study on adults has also shown beneficial effects on falling asleep.

But what I prefer about this approach is the mechanical/robotic side to treat insomnia. Because he avoids taking medication.

It has been said often enough: the French are among the biggest consumers of tranquilizers and sleeping pills in Europe, especially those over 65. This creates addictions and a lot of problems of drowsiness and fall in the middle of the day. Falls that can sometimes become serious. So if we could avoid it thanks to a robot cushion cuddly ... That is a good thing.