What The LDD-T3 Is

The LDD-T3 is essentially made up of three elements: a modified wristwatch, a headset, and a wristband that interfaces between the two. There is an optional fourth element that can be used interchangeably with the headset: ear-buds.

The modified wristwatch can be any wristwatch that meets a specific set of criteria. Two terminals are installed on the watch which allows connection to the wristband. (See forum-image-a)

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The headset emits a series of soft blinking lights when activated by the timer function of the wristwatch. If ear-buds are used instead of the headset, a series of audible beeps will be heard. (See forum-image-b)

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The wristband connects to the terminals of the modified wristwatch and controls the brightness level of the headset (or volume level of ear-buds). (See forum-image-c)

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Background Information

Preliminary information might be required to understand how the LDD-T3 will enable you to become aware when you are dreaming.

There are four stages to every sleep cycle; the first three stages are called non-REM and the last stage is called REM. The REM stage is where most dreaming occurs. After that final stage, you awaken briefly, and then fall back asleep to begin the next cycle, repeating this process throughout the entire night. The average sleep cycle lasts between 90 and 110 minutes. Although you probably don't remember awakening several times every night, it happens nonetheless.

The basic principle for inducing a lucid dream is to use one (or more) of your five senses to incorporate an outside stimulus into a dream already in progress. If you have ever dozed off while watching television or listening to the radio, you may have experienced this. Your senses continue to process information being received at the same time that a dream is occurring. By predetermining a signal that will be received during a dream, you can trigger a reminder to check whether or not you are in fact dreaming.

So how do you check if you’re dreaming? Very simply, you attempt to read something. The part of your brain which processes the task of reading behaves much differently when your body is in REM sleep. The simplest way to check if you are dreaming is to look at your digital watch and try to read the time. When you look at your wrist during a dream and expect to see a watch, you should find one there. Try it.

On the face of the watch, you should see incoherent symbols that you cannot read. Sometimes you might be able to read it at first glance, but look away and check again – it should be different the second time. At that moment you will realize you are dreaming and can then decide to continue with the storyline of the dream with full knowledge that it is all just a dream, or you are free to embark on your own journey of exploration in a world that is every bit as real as your senses can process, yet still just a dream.

How The LDD-T3 Works

The chronometer is used to time your individual sleep cycles and determine how long it typically takes for you to hit the REM stage. Start the stopwatch when you lay down to sleep, and press the lap button every time you find yourself awake during the night.

You might think that you never awaken during the night – rest assured, everyone awakens briefly after each cycle, and then falls back asleep. You also might think that you won’t remember to press the lap button – just think about it while you fall asleep and you should remember at least a few times each night. Don’t worry about analyzing the measurements until the morning; just press the lap button whenever you think about it during the night. A REM assessment worksheet is included for you to record these times. (See forum-attachment 1)

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Some measurements will be shorter (5 or 10 minutes) and some will be longer (2 to 4 hours). The shorter ones due to interruptions when you were still in the early non-REM stages, while the longer ones due to missed cycles in which you fell back asleep before pressing the lap button. Record only the measurements that are around 90 and 110 minutes (could vary a little, so look for trends). You might successfully record only a few per night, so continue this process for several days until you have discovered a recurring pattern in your sleep cycles (the more days you can do this, the better).

Once you have determined the typical amount of time it takes for you to awaken from REM, set the first interval timer 10 minutes prior to that time. For example, if most of your cycles have been ending between 70 and 80 minutes, use the earlier time and set the first interval timer to 1 hour. Set the remaining 8 intervals each for 5 minutes. You are now ready to induce a lucid dream.

When you are prepared for sleep, attach the wristband terminals to the wristwatch terminals, plug-in the headset to the wristband, and put on the wristwatch and the wristband. (See image-d) Start the interval timers, put on the headset, and lay down to sleep.

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The first interval timer should go off approximately 10 minutes prior to the end of a sleep cycle, while you are still in the middle of a dream. The headset will produce 3 sets of 3 soft blinks from LED lights inside the eyepieces (blink-blink-blink, blink-blink-blink, blink-blink-blink). Those blinks will be incorporated into the dream somehow; you will see them and continue to dream. At that point, you should be reminded to check if you are dreaming.

The remaining 8 timers will continue to go off at 5 minute intervals. These will be secondary alerts in case you missed the first one or have gone back to accepting the dream as reality. The final timer will produce a long lasting series of blinks that will most likely awaken you, but could be adjusted to allow you to continue sleeping.

The blinks might be too bright, causing you to awaken immediately, or they might be too dim, not being noticed at all. You may need to adjust the brightness of the headset which is controlled by the wristband and attempt again during another sleep cycle. You may also need to adjust the time of the first interval timer if you find that you’re not dreaming when it goes off. Make adjustments at 5 minute intervals until you find a time that works with your sleep cycles – be sure to make several attempts at each setting to allow for variations in sleep cycles.

What Makes The LDD-T3 Different

The LDD-T3 is unique because it incorporates itself into your daily lifestyle as a normal watch. It reinforces the technique of checking your watch to determine if you are dreaming by thinking about this every time you check it. You might even trigger a lucid dream just by wearing a watch that really notifies you when you are dreaming, kind of like a placebo effect.

And while other products are left in a bed-side drawer only to be pulled out a few moments before going to sleep, this device goes with you all the time. Your dreams are often constructed of experiences throughout your entire day. Wearing this watch all day long will be a constant reminder that you never really know if you are dreaming until you check your watch.

What Is Your Role In This

I'm interested to discover how many people might be interested in this type of technology. There is currently only one prototype and it is my personal device. If I begin production of the LDD-T3, I need to know what type of reaction there will be in this market area.

Please consider this and let me know your thoughts.