Cocoon is a programmable dream machine enabled by the synthesis of work-in-progress at MIT Media Lab’s Fluid Interfaces Group.
As a dreamer descends into sleep, Cocoon tracks three sleep-stages using brain activity, muscle tension, heart rate, and movement data that are revealed through its dome. Cocoon uses ongoing platforms we developed including Open Sleep , Fluid BCI and Rem Mask to facilitate sleep stage detection. External stimuli in the form of scent, audio and muscle stimulation direct the content of the dreams.
We use Dormio to detect Hypnagogia, the state between sleep and wake, influencing visual and idea generation using audio. We use Essence to alter the emotional content of dreams and memory consolidation during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and Deep Sleep. We use Electronight to administer muscle stimulation to arms and legs and change the kinesthetic content of dreams.
Crossing boundaries both disciplinary and experiential, Cocoon offers an embodied investigation of one’s own consciousness, a philosophy in the flesh: With it users can observe and engage the torsion of their senses, see and shape dreams which are otherwise entirely uncontrollable, unlinked, and unseen.
Cocoon was presented at Ars Electronica 2018 in Linz and the Beijing Media Art Biennale 2018. Project created with Judith and Adam. Cocoon is part of the Engineering Dreams Enterprise we started at Fluid Interfaces at the MIT Media Lab.