Virtual reality (VR) company Future World Studios has just had a patent application publish detailing a VR system for helping users sleep. The company specializes in using VR in medicine, offering solutions for clinicians as well as patients. Future World's patient-focused applications help to reduce stress and delirium in surgery or ICU settings through VR therapy. Now, Future World is expanding into improving sleep, with its most recent application providing an "immersive experience" and tracking sleep cycles to help users take better naps. 

Although there are many patent filings for environmental control during sleep, very few include using VR systems. SRI International, a research non-profit that developed Siri technology later acquired by Apple, has one issued patent for a biofeedback-based VR sleep system. Other companies such as Philips Electronics do cover providing "sensory input" to sleeping users that includes visual input; however, these filings do not specifically implement VR. Another use for the technology could be in dream manipulation, a patent area led by Aladdin. Any one of these companies would benefit from patenting VR integrations with their technology, since the field is fairly bare for now. Alternatively, companies with well-known VR products like Microsoft or Facebook may want to consider applying their hardware to the growing field of consumer sleep. Future World can also position itself well for licensing or acquisition by continuing to file before other companies wake up to the possibilities. You can keep track of these companies and more developments with the Consumer Sleep Patent Forecast®.