Sensory Stimulation / Deprivation

The theory I am working from is based on similar concepts used for sensory deprivation, but also using concepts from therapists I spoke to and various forms of meditation, vizualization and guided imagery techniques I uncovered during my research: that some stimulation can help send the mind into interesting guided relaxation with dream-like imagery and experiences, but too much stimulation can take over and prevent the participant from going on this experience journey.

  Mind/Body Quieting Techniques & Research

I am incorporating altered states of consciousness, inner-awareness, and the physical manifestations of these into my project, to help to prepare participants for the external “wireless” communication, creating a “meditative portal” or “non-local telephone” for “connection” with each other and eventually with technology.

The experimental immersive environmental design for this “portal” or “non-local phone” should include a comfortable environment and pre-experience physical preparation before individuals enter the environment, perhaps of light yoga, breathing and guided relaxation, to stimulate physical sensations of weightlessness, hyper-awareness, and openness.

In order to get a better idea of the best ways to help participants to be open to their experience and to access this “connection” or “portal” to the telepathic dimension, I will be conducting mind-quieting research into various practices available to people locally and from other cultures in the world.

I began this research through experiments with some of the altered states and mind quieting practices on myself, available locally, such as: Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness Meditation, Vizualization techniques, Shamanic Dance, Holotropic Breathing, lucid dreaming exploration.

  "Dream Chamber" Construction and Design

There are skecthces and images available, for those interested go here.

Other Experiential Design Considerations:

• spend time initially with the participants in preparation, such as doing a short light yoga routine with them before the guided relaxation;
• make sure that they feel comfortable with making utterances into a recording microphone, and if not, having a back-up recording or documentation mechanism;
• be careful planning the imagery or “messages” and stimulation sent to participants, and what I am trying to stimulate or encourage in participants;
• have surround speakers, but adding a directed light source to send different colours into the space;
• have participants commit to an hour for each experiment, to include yoga, guided relaxation, sensory deprivation and then select sensory stimulation segments;
• experiment with scents, scent sources and scent dispersion methods as well as lack of scent(as much as is possible);
• embedding microphones near the head of participants in the environment;
• experiment with skin sensors, brainwave and heartbeat monitors;
• perhaps sending the utterances of participants back to them in a modulated way to see if they recognize their own mutated voice or mix it up with other sounds, and what effect that has;
• make sure the narrative and other stimulation methods, senses etc. are related to the “intended” outcomes;
• experiment with ways that the participants can reply to or send messages back to the original senders and perhaps a computer – think about ways that those messages might be recorded;
• integrate across media is vital to ensuring fully interactive experience for all participants.

  Construction Materials

Original Construction Materials, Tools and Technical Requirements

Design: A womb or igloo shaped structure, completely black, small, warm, intimate space with cushions and pillows for lounging / reclining:

• air mattress for reclining
• microphones, voice/audio mixing and recording devices or setup on computer
• surround 3D speakers (4)
• database of sounds, images, video
• light and video generating program/ projection relay, and recording system
• pre-fab or custom-made breath, heart, light, touch or lie detector-type sweat sensor
• computer hubs/ processing system
• semi-transparent blindfolds, if difficult to achieve completely black space
• incense or smell infusion system in participant room
• secondary control and “sending” room
• programming of sensors & devices – programmer – myself with the help of other students at SFU - TBD
• wire cutters, plyers, drill, dremel, paint brushes, industrial scissors
• geodesic dome – custom made/ordered(www.shelter-systems.com) - or could made by hand using pattern(also available on shelter systems website)

Changes and Final materials:

Custom built pod/space, with built-in reclined seat - see images and tent-like cover for projecting onto - built from:

• plywood
• plumbing tubing
• custom but bed foam
• tent-like cover

Custom built by friend Martin Larsen, with seat and dome cover designed and sewn by Mary Belgue.

Still necessary:

• microphones, voice/audio mixing and recording devices or setup on computer
• surround 3D speakers (4)
• database of sounds, images, video
• light, sound and video processing program/ projection relay - using MAX/MSP/Jitter and recording system [not sure about this part still]
• custom-made breath, heartrate, blood-volume, brinawave, and galvanic skin sensors by Thought Technologies
• computer labtops for processing images, light and sound
• secondary control and “sending” room
• programming of sensors & devices, by MAX/MSP programmer, Jordan Benwick

  Sensor Experiments

This has been a frustrating process due to the fact that Though technolgies made the senosrs incompatible with a mac - my main machine and only possible platform for MAX/MSP. More detailed, daily process of this experience can be found in te phlog.

More general process notes will be coming soon.