What else would be better? If we're talking electronics to facilitate this phenomenon.

I don't know... Whatever similar devices use? To be honest, I didn't mean to suggest any better alternative, I simply didn't understand how exactly Kinect is intended to work here, for Kinect was actually only mentioned in the headline.

I'm sure Kinect is meant to somehow detect the REM phase... but how? I mean, in the end Kinect is just a kind of camera, so I was curious to know how exactly he intended to use visual information for detecting REM sleep. The model he posted a link to for example claims to use "infrared sensors". So maybe Zappykins though of Kinect because Kinect 2 will have an infrared camera?

Or maybe he was thinking of Kinect because they're saying Kinect 2 will be able to read your pulse? I really don't know, but I'd love to, because I find the subject very interesting. I'm already thinking of a number of other interesting features such a "sleep/dream companion" app or device could have.

I just had a dream about a tooth falling out (was loose then I wiggled it so much that it eventually just fell out, I've had these dreams before where I would lose them constantly through dream). Looked it up awhile ago and it stated something that there is a decent amount of stress in your life or something like that. Makes sense considering my job is working me everyday and just wants more and more out of me without providing me with the proper things to get my job done efficiently. I woke up and first thing I did was check my teeth (then I realized it was just a dream). Scared me there for a sec...

Kinect is similar to the other devices that do this. they detect your rem sleep through infrared. just like kinect works. Kinect is also connected to a tv so it could add sound and light at the appropiate times. I think kinect may just be cheaper, or serve a dual purpose, if you have it already, use it for this. But i wonder if it would be as effective since it wouldnt be directly over your eyes, but at a distant.

"The REM-Dreamer uses infrared sensors to detect when you are in REM (dreaming) sleep. At that point the REM-Dreamer gives you sound and light cues (beeps and flashing lights) to remind you that you are dreaming. Thus, external world stimuli are transferred to the world of your dreams, and it becomes easy to achieve lucidity." from the op

I already read this description of course, but in my opinion it's very vague. And I believe that the infrared sensor in this device works very different from the sensors found in Kinect. Just because two sensors both use infrared does not mean they're the same or can at least be used for similar things.

I would guess that this "REM dreamer" uses some kind of infrared sensor similar to those found in PIR (passive infra-red)-sensors. Those are infrared sensors that can detect motion, which seems plausible given that REM means "rapid eye movement" and the REM dreamer device is worn right before one's eyes.

As far as I know, Kinect 2 on the other hand simply has an optical infrared camera - a simple security-camera like camera capable of generating greyscale images even in darkness. And I don't see how that could be used instead.

Yes, the detection would be to simply monitor the twitching eye movements during REM.

But are you suggesting Kinect doesn't have the capacity for such detail under dark conditions? I don't believe it either.

Loose teeth? Are you of school age?

Btw, I don't quite remember, but are you a Christian?

Just curious since u've also had these vivid dreams and OBE's, and in my world view (as a Christian) these phenomena are possible pathways into the spiritual realm.

How about a sensor that can detect when I have sleep paralysis and it then wakes me up fully

Yes, I'm sceptical Kinect's infrared sensor is capable of that. First of all, since the eyes are closed during sleep, it wouldn't see the actual iris moving, but only very small changes on the eyelids. A true PIR sensor just millimeters before the eyes is probably capable of detecting this, but an infrared camera (that probably even has a much lower resolution than the HD resolution of the RGB sensor) positioned meters away... that seems much harder to detect.

And then there's of course the problem of where to place the Kinect sensor, for it would have to see the eyes at any time. The only position I can think of where the camera would be able to see at least one eye at almost all times would be right above the bed.

My first speculation by the way was that he was thinking of that new "pulse detection" feature Kinect 2's software library is said to allow for. The Wikipedia page on REM sleep says that during this phase also one's pulse changes, so that might eventually work, at least in theory. But considering that this feature will probably not be very accurate and the changes in pulse during REM sleep might be rather small, I'm sceptical about this approach as well.

I was raised Christian but I am not Christian anymore.  I might be open to possibility of a god or gods but I mainly believe in karma.  Do good onto others and good will become of you.  Do bad unto others and bad will return to you. I've done a lot of research drugs that are akin to LSD such as AMT, 2Ci, 2Ce (I've also done LSD and mushrooms a couple times).  Perhaps that is why my brain is so strange.  I was also a major pothead for 15 or so years with a few breaks taken (currently on a few months break right now).  Pretty much I don't consider myself a normal person.

I am 30 years old.  It is more of a fear of losing teeth I believe portrayed in my dreams that makes it a nightmare.  Last dream I only had one tooth fall out before I woke myself up.  I've had a dream in college days that I lost almost all my teeth throughout the dream.  Let me just say no one wants to go through the event of teeth just falling out.