Thread: Ideas for Lucid Dreaming App

1) A "smart alarm", same as in "Sleep as Android", where the alarm may kick in earlier than the programmed wake-up time, and does so when the app thinks the sleeper is virtually awake anyway. This would of course require some means of detecting the level of sleep. Commonly, this is done via measuring physical movement of the device (which, I assume, is what you have already planned with the Sleep Cycle/REM detector).

2) The possibility to let the alarm gradually increase in volume, until reaching its maximum level after a pre-set amount of time.

3) Ability to save measured movement data to a file, thereby allowing later analysis of the data using spreadsheets etc.

At any rate, I wish you the best of success with your project!

Good luck with your project except I'm sick of all high techs and computers and anyway I think they only lower your awareness....

- I wanted to develop a dream journal calendar with some way to highlight with colors specific days with LD, FA, Failed lucid, Normal, Blank, etc. So one can have track of them during the months and click on them to see what it was about. Every item (LD, FA, etc) should have a hide/show option.

- Perhaps and option to choose/add from a data bank different sounds to be used with the alarm too.

Thanks for the input guys!
@Voldmer: The "smart alarm" is what I was planning on using the sleep cycle/rem detection for, as well as having it play cues while the user is in rem to try and induce lucidity. I was also planning on having the data exportable somehow, since I would need to be able to look at it while I'm coding the detections. I like your volume increasing alarm idea, it definitely sounds like it would be nicer and less jarring to wake up to.

@Karloky: Thanks for the luck! I agree that the amount of tech we have is having an adverse effect on our minds, but hopefully the reality check feature will help people become more aware of what's going on around them.

@Box77: I like your dream journal idea. Perhaps be able to assign colors to tags so that you can use it to also find dream signs. Choosing any sound you want is definitely planned for the alarm.

Thanks again, and I'm not sure when I'll have the first version out, or what features it will include, but I'll be working on it and post here when I get it up.
P.S. I'm changing the first post to include more details about each feature.

- It would be great if the DJ section had an option to alternatively switch between a text editor, some graphic utility and a voice recorder during the edition of an entry. A voice to text utility would do wonders too.

- The alarm should have a multiple programmable time option.

@Box77- I really like the voice and voice-to-text idea, definitely adding that to the list. What do you mean "graphic utility"? Like adding pictures to entries? And what do you mean "multiple programmable time option"?

Originally Posted by mcguinnessdr

What do you mean "graphic utility"? Like adding pictures to entries?

- For the graphic utility I mean a tool like simple graphic editor where you could be able to draw sketches on the touchscreen more than adding already existing images (although it would be helpful too if they are scanned from a piece of paper you already drew that moment ). At the end, any image should be easily attachable to the text as well as any recorded audio. Sometimes, during an entry, I found it very useful to draw something I saw in the dream in stead of trying to describe it with words. "A picture is worth a thousand words". Same for humming a melody.

Originally Posted by mcguinnessdr

And what do you mean "multiple programmable time option"?

- I mean something like setting multiple alarm times for one day and/or let it play intermittently for a selected time (i.e. every 10 min) since it turned off. I think it would be very useful if you tend to be absorbed by the dream, and it could help you to stay lucid by giving you a little sound signal that shouldn't wake you up although would remind you that you're still dreaming. Another application would be when you try to DEILD, etc.

You could try a simpler version of Alexander Stone's Actigraphy App (Lucid Dreaming App) that uses the accelerometer to measure the movement of the matress as you sleep. As sleep atonia sets in the movement ceases, which signals the onset of REM. Then have a cue to induce lucidity (light / vibrate / sound). Alternatively a great WBTB cue would be to wake mid sleep cycle, not during REM, so that you can WILD. The best timne to wake is probably 1/2 hour before the next REM cycle.

@Box77: It should be pretty easy to attach images to entries (once I've figured out how to save entries :/ I really hate Java). You will be able to make as many alarms as you want, and they will be highly customizable, so you'll be able to do that.

@Goldenspark: Yes, that's exactly what I had planned, with more customization so that different triggers (rem/waking/etc.) can cause different events (sounds/vibration/etc.). I might actually contact him and see if I can use his code in my app (or just completely combine our apps).

If the user will be able to add a simple sketch in at least 4 actions (open, draw, close, confirm) while writing down a DJ entry, then you got my point. If it does in less than that then I think your app will definitively kick ass!

One thing to watch out for is battery drain. Both Alex Stone's and other apps seem to drink the juice! I don't see why they should need to. You can leave the phone plugged into the charger, but I don't like doing that too much because the battery life suffers over time.

Also how about adding a prospective memory trainer? There is an Android one already, but it's standalone.