Thread: Whilst I await the AURORA

I am interested to know how the Aurora works for you. I have been following the iwinks kickstarter for a few years now and am glad to see that they are finally ready to start shipping (: They've worked on it for years, and now it is finally ready. I wonder if it really provides lucid dreams every night like they promised. Perhaps it does, since they have decided to start shipping out the devices.

Hi, I will be doing a very thorough review once it arrives. Its important to note that Aurora is a tool and not a magical device. There will still be 'effort' and techniques required by the use to make it work for lucidity

The most popular way is to have Aurora 'rouse' you from sleep during REM and then to keep dead still and reenter the dream with awareness. I know this to work as this is how I have had lots of success with the RemDreamer so the basic principle defiantly works - its looking good! :-)

The Aurora looks primising (especially cause i think it's much more comfortable to wear).
EzzoLucid, how did you deal with the REMdreamer being really not comfortable? When i wear it, i just can't seem to fall asleep because the feeling of pressure on the head is increasing all the time.

Originally Posted by eltane

The Aurora looks primising (especially cause i think it's much more comfortable to wear).
EzzoLucid, how did you deal with the REMdreamer being really not comfortable? When i wear it, i just can't seem to fall asleep because the feeling of pressure on the head is increasing all the time.

I hate the clunky feel of RemDreamer and also, when lying with head on the side the thickness causes it to lift high up the face slightly rendering the rem detection inacurate. I didnt really deal with it apart from trying to sleep on my back. RemDreamer is not a good design ... roll on Aurora

Okay. You were able to sleep with it more easy than I do? I really just can't seem to sleep with the remdreamer on.

Originally Posted by eltane

Okay. You were able to sleep with it more easy than I do? I really just can't seem to sleep with the remdreamer on.

Im not surprised, its not comfortable. Aurora will be much better

the only benefit aurora has brought me yet since backing it was that I make an RC every time I read another anouncement from them or read about their still-not-delivered product :p

Originally Posted by ezzolucid

Hi, I will be doing a very thorough review once it arrives. Its important to note that Aurora is a tool and not a magical device. There will still be 'effort' and techniques required by the use to make it work for lucidity.

Hasn't Schoonover imposed an NDA, non-disclosure 'gagging' clause?

Originally Posted by ezzolucid

The most popular way is to have Aurora 'rouse' you from sleep during REM and then to keep dead still and reenter the dream with awareness. I know this to work as this is how I have had lots of success with the RemDreamer so the basic principle defiantly works - its looking good! :-)

A basic timer, or even a Reeme will do the same job; all for a fraction of the cost. Plus you do not have to wait for the brick to arrive!

Originally Posted by Highlander

Hasn't Schoonover imposed an NDA, non-disclosure 'gagging' clause?




A basic timer, or even a Reeme will do the same job; all for a fraction of the cost. Plus you do not have to wait for the brick to arrive!

Originally Posted by Highlander

Hasn't Schoonover imposed an NDA, non-disclosure 'gagging' clause?

A basic timer, or even a Reeme will do the same job; all for a fraction of the cost. Plus you do not have to wait for the brick to arrive!

Yes this is true BUT (and its a big but) Theres no REM detection is remee or other alarms / timers so its hit and miss on it working whereas Aurora (and RemDremer) will nealry always cue you at the correct time. Also the lights on Remee are just not bright enough to wake me up

Sure I understand about the timers, etc. even so the Aurora is yet to be proven in the field in regard to accurate REM detection, which also could be a hit and miss affair hence the reason you guys are doing the beta test I guess.

I'm wondering about the review (which would be great BTW) when the Aurora is not in the public domain, so it would be hard to run it past the gestapo people at iWinks without intervention.

Good luck when you do trial it, but I wouldn't expect miracles.


P.S. I have recently obtained a cheap Reeme. I intend to use it post-WBTB once I finish Uni. I usually know when I will be in REM-land, which with me is roughly post-WBTB +1 hour, so no Aurora needed.

Originally Posted by Highlander

Sure I understand about the timers, etc. even so the Aurora is yet to be proven in the field in regard to accurate REM detection, which also could be a hit and miss affair hence the reason you guys are doing the beta test I guess.

I'm wondering about the review (which would be great BTW) when the Aurora is not in the public domain, so it would be hard to run it past the gestapo people at iWinks without intervention.

Good luck when you do trial it, but I wouldn't expect miracles.


P.S. I have recently obtained a cheap Reeme. I intend to use it post-WBTB once I finish Uni. I usually know when I will be in REM-land, which with me is roughly post-WBTB +1 hour, so no Aurora needed.

Hi, Im not a beta tester but the Aurora is now being distributed out to the first batch of backers. The iWinks guys have put life and soul into Aurora over the last few years and are determined to cultivate a world leading product in sleep tracking / lucid induction / smart alarm (possibly) device. As a lucid dreaming community we need to get behind the team at iWinks and support / promote the Aurora.

These are exciting times! :-)

Ezzo

Originally Posted by ezzolucid

The iWinks guys have put life and soul into Aurora over the last few years and are determined to cultivate a world leading product in sleep tracking / lucid induction / smart alarm (possibly) device. As a lucid dreaming community we need to get behind the team at iWinks and support / promote the Aurora.

These are exciting times! :-)

Ezzo

Why? People are fed up - not only with the Aurora, but with the N2D2 as well. Also a lot of people are wary after the Luci debarcle and the TACS hype. When there are some proven repeatable reports then more people might jump aboard, rather than jump ship.

Plus, what about all the backers. If it wasn't for them there would be no money = no end product. They have spent their hard earned cash for a device which is claimed to do all things under the sun, but as yet they are still waiting... and waiting. Zzz

ezzolucid - you sound like their marketing department.
I am a customer/backer and still got: nothing.
well, nothing is also what I got from luciding until now. Well at least luciding reponds to emails

let's wait and see. If "they" don't deliver, just build it yourself.
In the meantime my good old Zeo connected to a raspberry pi does a marvellous job at cueing me at the right time.

Im not connected at all to iWinks, im not even a backer, im just super excited and heres why .... I get lucid all the time using DEILD with an alarm. Its kinda my specialty and for this I have been using the RemDreamer with a lot of success. The Aurora is a step up from RemDreamer in that it looks much more comfortable and light. Im sure Aurora will enable me to lucid every night as i do at the moment with remDreamer.

I have been following their progress very closely and they now have the first batch of units to be released. Visit their latest update to see the physical proof.

Hey Raipat ... What is a 'Zeo'? sounds interesting

Ezzo

The Zeo was the first consumer grade EEG sleep tracker, emerged on the market in 2009. The devices are hackable and deliver raw EEG data in sufficient quality to use them for REM-detection(one of the USPs of the ZEO device is, that it does this and reports sleep state every 5 minutes) and even LRLR-eye signal detection. The Company, Zeo Inc., went out of business 2013, so you can only get used units. Most sleep hackers out there hope and wait for a device that can replace the Zeo. I still habe 3 of these devices and use them for home grown "sleep lab" experiments, alone and together with others to explore dream sharing and sleep communication.

Holy Cow!! I got my Aurora! I am in the Early Access Program. Getting the device set up at the moment, not sure if I have a gag order, so you may or may not be hearing from me.

Does it have the lucid dreaming app enabled? Or are you just going to gauge your sleep quality?

Originally Posted by xintenseities

...not sure if I have a gag order, so you may or may not be hearing from me.

Too late, you have already broadcast the fact on one of the biggest dream forums in the world.
There is always the PM box, or we could bribe you for a review/report. I winks can't ask for it back can they?

BTW good luck with the trials.

I Talked it over with Danny and Andrew and they said I can reveal some information. I received the Aurora yesterday afternoon. It came with the unit and USB charging cord. I am in the Early Access Program of beta testers, and I feel very lucky to be chosen for this project! We are on a social app on the web where I was given a download link to Borealis, the platform iWinks uses to down load the sleep statistics and upload the various programs that we are using. There will be over 50 testers in total with more being added as the testing continues. Currently I'm using one program on the site. Its called REM Stimulation. Within the program you can control certain functions such as the initial time the device waits before presenting the light stimulation, also the minimum amount of time between the successive stimulation as well as the color and brightness of the lights. There is also extra data that can be collected by Aurora such as EEG, Heart rate, and accelerometer details. Let me tell you, this device is sturdy and well made. So I guess you can say its in lucid dreaming mode right now. It fits very comfortably, and I like it better than the REM Dreamer pro because of the placement of the unit. Any other questions you have I can answer if I haven't been clear enough here.

So you have been using the Rem Dreamer and now IWinks and have 3 Lucids? not much of an endorsement for EILD

Do most of the beta testers have mid to vast LD experience? or mostly newbies? I would think they would want a bunch of rDEILD(ers)

@cooleymd. Do I detect a bit of sarcasm? I was chosen for this project because I have had very little experience with LD's. Thats the point behind why they selected me. I personally dont know if the other beta testers are newbies or are skilled at LDing, because this whole thing just got started this week. All I can say is, arn't all here on this site for one reason? For the one purpose that unites us all, to support each other in the endeavor to Lucid dream?

Well seems that the Rem Dreamer is the more likely device to be effective, but hard to get fixed if you live in US and it breaks.

Tho EEG to create REM chart thru the night and stuff probably more useful for improving ones own understanding of their dream pattern. (I should get one of those Intel Basis)

Until devices start to come out that actually cause direct induction, I suspect all devices will have low success rate. Tho Ezolucid seems to indicate that REM detection, micro awakening, and DEILD is effective. I would want one of those Oneirics things if they ever decided to make them

I suppose it is easier to see if the things are effective if people have some but not too many Lucid dreams.

Probably the best group to choose would be young people (not in college) with known good sleep patterns.

Originally Posted by xintenseities

I Talked it over with Danny and Andrew and they said I can reveal some information. I received the Aurora yesterday afternoon. It came with the unit and USB charging cord. I am in the Early Access Program of beta testers, and I feel very lucky to be chosen for this project! We are on a social app on the web where I was given a download link to Borealis, the platform iWinks uses to down load the sleep statistics and upload the various programs that we are using. There will be over 50 testers in total with more being added as the testing continues. Currently I'm using one program on the site. Its called REM Stimulation. Within the program you can control certain functions such as the initial time the device waits before presenting the light stimulation, also the minimum amount of time between the successive stimulation as well as the color and brightness of the lights. There is also extra data that can be collected by Aurora such as EEG, Heart rate, and accelerometer details. Let me tell you, this device is sturdy and well made. So I guess you can say its in lucid dreaming mode right now. It fits very comfortably, and I like it better than the REM Dreamer pro because of the placement of the unit. Any other questions you have I can answer if I haven't been clear enough here.

MY AURORA HAS SHIPPED!!!! Finally it should be here within days. My angle on this is that I only use one method to become lucid and its VERY effective and also very simple to learn. Its not my invention but a fusing of CanWild and DEILD using an alarm.

The technique is to fall asleep and then have an alarm (Remee, music, vibrating watch etc) rouse you from your dream. Then keep dead still and watch as your body falls back asleep whilst you retain a pearl of awareness and you will almost always be transported into a dream, or more commonly an 'obe' (dream that begins in a replica of your bedroom)

Ive never understood why lucid mask manuals (Remee, RemDreamer, Novadreamer etc) try to teach people to recognize light cues within the dream as this seems to have a low success rate where as waking yourself during a dream using a device and then falling back asleep with awareness (WILD) is hugely effective and only takes seconds ......... oh and you dont have to worry about daily reality checks either.

I was chosen for an early unit by iWinks as I can bring a lot to the party as I am experienced at 'light induced' lucid dreaming so I can give feedback on the best (albeit general) settings for maximum effect.

Once Ive used Aurora for a few weeks then the reviews will start to appear on the forums

The iWinks team are in this for the long haul, unlike Remee who just hit n run with their product. The Aurora will set the benchmark for future lucid dreaming devices.

DEILD cannot be beaten for an effective technique and Aurora will be a great tool to enable DEILD to maximum effect

Im rambling now so goodnight

Very effective....for you. Some people simply cannot fall back asleep quickly after being roused in any way. DILD approaches and in-dream notification are far superior for those.

The iWinks team are in this for the long haul, unlike Remee who just hit n run with their product. The Aurora will set the benchmark for future lucid dreaming devices.

Time will tell. They do not inspire confidence with their track record of very poor response times in the campaign forums.