Controlling a smart home from lucid dreams

Smart home systems facilitate humans’ domestic environments and enhance their quality of life. Voice control of devices is usually available right after one awakens in the morning. In this study, we tested a way to operate smart home technologies even before awakening with the help of electromyographical (EMG) signals from dreams. A software program was tuned to translate and digitally vocalize EMG spikes into commands for the voice control of devices. One advanced lucid dreaming practitioner was trained to use these commands to operate lights, electric kettle, and a radio. The goal was to achieve the same tasks in LD under polysomnographic observation in laboratory conditions. LDs was verified by pre-agreed eye movements in REM sleep. The participant in three confirmed LDs was able to control smart home units despite sleep paralysis. It was possible to control light, the electric kettle, and radio in real-time while still being in REM sleep. The experiment demonstrated a new practical application of LD—specifically, technological everyday life tasks could be performed while asleep. In the future, the same tasks could be performed directly (without voice commands) by transmitting EMG, electroencephalography, and electrooculography patterns from LDs. With development, these technologies may open new perspectives for LD application like online shopping, entertaining, education, and jobs. Full preprint: or Remspace’s website