Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2010

Courtesy of Takanohana

Sure, you can get all kinds of fancy iPhone apps that’ll wake you up just before the train arrives at your stop, but we’ve yet to come across anything that stops you dozing off in the first place. The Nap Vieeb Plus II (really rolls off the tongue, that one) promises to keep you awake through even the most tedious meetings, long-distance drives or Russian art films. When your head tilts as you start to nod off, a sensor in the earpiece triggers an alarm or vibration, returning you to the realm of consciousness. The sensitivity can also be adjusted, presumably to account for people who nod a lot even when they’re awake, if not necessarily paying attention.

Nap Vieeb Plus II, ¥2,500. Available direct from www.takanoha.info