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The Lucid Dream Machine

The Lucid Dream Machine
This is part of both the "let it glow" challenge and the robot challenge, so please vote for either/or category that you see fitting if you enjoyed/liked this instructable. Remember, voting is different than giving it a good rating.

First off, this is a Collaboration between me Guyfrom7up and Gmoon

Gmoon did all of the programming, debugging, etc.

Guyfrom7up did all of the hardware, PCB, etc.

What is Lucid Dreaming? Lucid Dreaming is when you are sleeping and dreaming and that you are aware that your are asleep and that you are dreaming, yet you don't wake up. This can be great, giving you full control of your dreams, jumping off of buildings, going into space, whatever your mind can create.

The Lucid Dream Machine is a pair of glasses that you wear while you are sleeping. About 4 hours into your sleep the AVR microcontroller pulse LEDs that shine through your eyelids. This half wakes you up. The flashing lights helps you become aware (in your sleep) that your are sleeping and dreaming, in doing so you become more likely to be able to control your dreams.

Our Collaboration give you the Lucid Dream Machine.

Sorry, but to watch a video you will have to download it, for some reason the video won't work on both youtube and metacafe.
(gmoon: I tweaked the video and uploaded to my account... I need to do this for all my videos, also.)

 
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Step 1Supplies

Supplies
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  • 100_3659.JPG
  • 100_3690.JPG
In order to build the device you need:

1x ATtiny13v AVR Microcontroller
2x LEDs (color of your choice, we used red because it works at low voltage, shines through eyelids well, and is cheap)
2x Resistors (value of your choice)
1x SPST or SPDT switch (it's only used as a power switch, so it doesn't matter)
1x Normally off momentary switch
1x Lithium 3volt Watch Battery (we used a CR2032)
1x Lithium Watch Battery Holder (we used a CR2032 holder)
Some way of mounting the device to your face, such as glasses).

Wire
Solder
Ways of making a PCB or just Prefboard (up to you, we used a custom PCB using toner transfer and Eagle)
An AVR programmer
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316 comments
1-40 of 316next »
May 13, 2012. 11:23 AMgoldenshuttle says:
Althu it needs some work to keep the eyes safe. But the idea is brilliant, good job guyfrm7up..
May 10, 2012. 12:03 AMV0R73X says:
CAN WE PLEASE JUST ENJOY THE INSTRUCTABLE AND NOT COMMENT ANYMORE ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS CAN IT BE??
We all are humans, we can make the decisions of our own. Each individual determines if this instructable is dangerous or not on his own.
So let's stop the pointless argument and comment about the flaws of the project and the experiences of people who've actually used it!
Apr 2, 2012. 5:13 PMabran5 says:
you should make an instructable on how to add sound cues
Dec 17, 2009. 5:20 AMFik says:
How do you keep from poking your eyes with the LEDs if you turn face down on the pillow? (I do that often. I mean turning face down, not poking my eyes)
Nov 4, 2011. 2:08 AMacoleman3 says:
makes me wonder if you could attach sun glass lenses to the outside and drill holes in them just big enough for the led body to slide through. then it'd be a matter of placing a dot or two of super glue on the other side where the led shoulder touches the lens.
Nov 4, 2011. 2:04 AMacoleman3 says:
it might be a better idea to us a red sharpi marker to locate the eye holes. the red will show up on the outside for you to use as a cutting guide and im *sure* it'd be safer.
Oct 8, 2011. 7:48 PMfalloutman19 says:
holy crap it worked did it last night and was skeptical but it was soooooooooo ooooooooo oooooo awesome
Jan 5, 2009. 6:19 PMBuild4343 says:
If anyone has tried this please tell us what happened to insure that its safe!!
Jul 15, 2010. 8:28 AMbowmaster says:
Who cares if it's safe? It's science!!!
Jun 15, 2011. 3:49 PMDelo97 says:
Are you GLaDOS or what? ^_^
Jun 17, 2011. 11:19 AMbowmaster says:
A bit.
Jun 24, 2011. 2:00 AMDelo97 says:
Anways, I think that the prgress of Science can't be stopped because of dangers too!
Aug 19, 2009. 8:05 AMBigev says:
What's the worst that could happen? The mask could fall off and choke you i guess, but otherwise it's risk free.
Nov 7, 2009. 6:12 PMM4industries says:
Maybe epileptic fits. I dunno
Mar 29, 2010. 4:36 AMKryptonite says:
The lights aren't that bright of flashy.
Apr 24, 2010. 5:42 PMhaunted_lady says:
 As a person with epilepsy any blinking light causes this. If you read in the agreement with Yahoo within the email account even they tell you there is chance of epileptic seizures. Just surfing your inbox can cause this. Best to not offer an opinion on something unless you know what you are talking about when this could cause harm. ANd really you could reprogram your mind with this device this type of stuff should not be allowed to be on this site. There is a reason there is an FDA even though they are not perfect.
You could cause yourself to be stuck in certain parts of sleep patterns and not fully get out like when you are driving.
Nov 17, 2010. 5:20 PMsuspect13 says:
I don't want to resurrect a dead flame war, but I feel obligated to correct misinformation when I stumble across it.

It's a bad idea to take someone's credentials at face value on the internet. An anonymous person who claims to hold a master's degree in psychology could just be a cat lady who took Inception a little too seriously. I'm not attacking haunted_lady's credentials, I'm just giving a cautionary note.

Fact: the percentage of people who have photosensitive epilepsy, who will be triggered by lights blinking slowly, is extremely low. A television is more dangerous than this instructable, and televisions are available for mainstream sale. I'm sure you aren't organizing a door to door campaign to ban the use of decorative lights around the holidays.

These lights are not going to hypnotize you into sleep patterns that catch back up with you in the afternoon when you're driving home from work. At worst, they may contribute to incidents of sleepwalking in individuals who are predisposed to it. OTC sleeping pills are just as dangerous, though.
Apr 24, 2010. 7:16 PMBigev says:
I respect your input, and give due respect to your epileptic knowledge, but on the subject of this not being on the site I must disagree. Instructables is an open community of makers where any idea, no matter how unique or dangerous, is respected. A bit of discretion must be exercised when a project may be potentially dangerous, but Instructables usually leaves that up to the individual readers.

In short:
If you know you have epilepsy, then you should know better than to strap blinking lights to your face. Further, I don't believe that it is possible to get stuck in a particular stage of sleep.

TL;DR
Use common sense, I want proof of mind-stickage
Apr 24, 2010. 8:52 PMhaunted_lady says:
You ever hear of hypnosis? Well if you go into other states of consciousness and are not properly taken out of those states by a professional person who is trained well you can slip back in said altered state. I have actually a degree actually a Master's degree in psychology so I think I know what I am speaking about .
Use common sense wow and how would common sense have anything to do with being educated about subjects. I love the internet everyone thinks they know everything or they can look it up on WIKI..lets just close down all all the schools and call everyone equal because they have common sense.
Mind stickage  you sound stupid and frankly some people may not realize ( and now I am speaking to you for instance ) what this machine could do and so they could promote seizures and get up the next day and have a car accident and kill someone. So this isn't a trite subject so grow up.
Jun 15, 2011. 6:06 PMsculptur says:
"lets just close down all all the schools and call everyone equal because they have common sense." <-- Haunted_lady, could you please explain this to me, are you saying that people should not be treated equal? Also the tone you are putting off sounds a little condescending does it not? Thank you for your time, Sculpur.
Jun 2, 2010. 11:23 PMStickStoneBone says:
I'd like to make a few sterile observations:

1.  I find it highly ironic that the 'Highly Trained Psychology Major' is calling other people stupid. As any educated 'Highly Trained Psychology Major' knows... calling others 'stupid' causes most people to stop listening, and stop caring. This is natural human behavior.

2.  It's also ironic that the 'Highly Trained Psychology Major' doesn't use proper spelling, grammar, or syntax.
Jun 3, 2010. 6:30 PMhaunted_lady says:
 I never called him stupid I said he was acting stupid.
I never said I was highly trained. I admit I do not use my best writing skills on the internet, if I did most of you folks would not understand what you were reading. Hell I used my worst skills there and you did ot understand what you were reading you still messed it up  did you not.  SO there you go my point exactly!
Jan 28, 2011. 10:12 PMcarlos177567 says:
I are a maojr in hallucinogenz and dose have wors effecs on yuo
Mar 28, 2011. 5:25 PMhaunted_lady says:
Wow what language is that?
Mar 29, 2011. 6:24 AMStickStoneBone says:
Haunted_Human - What he's doing is deliberately colloquial. Here's a definition for you straight from the precious dictionary -

Colloquial: conversational, informal referring to types of speech not on a formal level. Refers to a style used in the oral exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.: an easy conversational style, without formality, without strict attention to set forms, unceremonious: an informal manner of speaking; it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers.

I'm wondering if you're capable of leaving positive comments... You seem to enjoy hurting others.

Jun 3, 2010. 10:26 PMStickStoneBone says:
I have just spent the past five minutes laughing.

I LOVE YOU. Aren't you cute.
Apr 25, 2010. 4:04 AMKryptonite says:
I take back my comment on the siezure thing, but please do not bag out the author for posting something he has done and wishes to share. It's a nice piece of electronics, and the science behind it is also interesting.



I've an idea; if you really want to continue this, then how about we swap sides of the argument? That way I'll really see your side of things, even if I don't have a full degree or understanding.
Apr 25, 2010. 11:03 AMhaunted_lady says:
(removed by author or community request)
Apr 28, 2010. 4:22 AMKryptonite says:
Fair enough, just try take into account that the author really worked hard to get what ever they achieved.
Apr 25, 2010. 3:23 PMBigev says:
I value your input, and yes it is true that the SHOULD aspect of making is often times overlooked, but I do not appreciate being bashed. I invent words like "stickage" to use in lieu of other more proper words to give a more accurate view of how I actually talk, but if this bothers you let's talk straight.

In your retort, you called me stupid. I assure you i am not stupid, merely uninformed. There is a crucial semantic difference between those two. I am in fact attending a University for an electrical engineering degree, and as such the matters of psychosis is a bit out of my area.

Also in the aforementioned response, I quote "Ever hear of hypnosis?" Why yes, I have. BUT, like a large number of people on here we are not intimately familiar with all of the possible side effects of improper waking.

You are obviously passionate about this subject, so take a minute and properly educate us unversed masses with a mature and documented response. References would be nice, as they lend credibility as opposed to claims by a faceless internet person.

Doubt is easy, disproving doubt is difficult.
Apr 26, 2010. 5:33 AMhaunted_lady says:
 First of all I said you sound stupid.
Secondly now you want references before you said use common sense.
And I am sorry it is hard to take a man seriously who is wearing a cream puff on his head seriously. 
If you are going to school why don't you make use of the library there ( no not the internet) and look up something. Try to research a subject not familiar to you.
I do this all the time. I should not have to hold your hand on this.
And I have given you examples when you first said you thought the "science behind his invention" was interesting.
What science would that be funny how he showed no references? Yet you swallowed it hook line in sinker you need to use your common sense it seems.
Sorry if I am a little tired of the sheep mentality on the internet " wow shiny cool" and no one thinks down the road...
I would give you links to things to look at but I read real books.
Jun 2, 2010. 11:52 PMStickStoneBone says:
I... Think... You... Need...
Less "crazy."

And it's not a Cream Puff, it's a chicken. And it's glorious.
Jun 3, 2010. 7:10 PMBigev says:
Thank you!
I love it to bits, by the way.
Jun 3, 2010. 6:36 PMhaunted_lady says:
 Why don't you worry about your website instead of  worrying about me...it doesn't work..lame
Jun 3, 2010. 11:15 PMStickStoneBone says:
My site currently works very well. Due to economic constraints I will unfortunately have to shut down my server... More is the pity..

I apologize for calling you "Crazy."

Just a reminder, the comment option is intended for feedback on this instructable, not for attacking other members or smearing my website.

I send love.
Aug 23, 2010. 6:21 PMtori1012 says:
lol you rock <3
Apr 26, 2010. 12:52 PMBigev says:
Alright, alright. Calm down. The flame war is over. I cede.

I apologize for playing devil's advocate the whole time, and we both have made decent points.Your research point is a very valid one, for example, and if I or anyone else felt so inclined that would be the proper course of action.

Have a nice day.
Jun 3, 2010. 6:35 PMhaunted_lady says:
 What decent point did you make I missed that.
You made the point that people that know whey have Epilepsy should avoid this  or whatever. Well considering the awesome health insurance Americans have I am sure you will be glad to know I was in my late 20's before mine was discovered. 
We are a Wiki nation everyone wants to contribute because they think they know something even when they do not. We all want to pretend we are somebody. No one wants to be the unknown guy in the corner in the chicken hat. In this arena this could get dangerous and could cause someone to do things dangerous... it isn't like we are building soap boxy derby cars.
Did you yourself not hear the story of the Japanese videos games pulled form the shelves because of the severe seizures kids were going into?
Mar 28, 2011. 4:53 PMguitarmonk15 says:
You are right! Let's censor the internet! Let's be Chinese Communists! YYYAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( I have nothing against the Chinese, just the way their government is set up.)
Mar 28, 2011. 5:13 PMhaunted_lady says:
Where is censorship mentioned nowhere. I hate to break it to you but everyone in the world's opinion is just that not a fact and some people do not know the difference and that can be dangerous. That's why it is not legal for people just to start making things and mass producing them out of their house it is called PRODUCT TESTING. You know to see IF IT IS DANGEROUS>>>>>>
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Author:guyfrom7up