Video - Artist Impression

Project Design - Navigation Plan

Project Design - Poster

Poster rough idea














Final poster

Final Proposal 2#

Topic: Dreams
Title: Dreamspace

Background:
Dreams are images, thoughts, sounds, or emotions that pass through our mind when we sleep. Everyone dreams. It is just a matter of whether we remember it or not. Everyone’s dream is unique as it is connected with our own reality-background and experiences. Study shows that dreams help you to tackle stress. Dreaming is a necessity as it helps to recharge mind and revitalize your body.

Some individuals believe that dreams can see into the future. There is no scientific proof yet that dreams may predict our future but there are many cases where people dreams and it eventually came true.

Type of dreams:
- daydreams
- false awakening dreams
- lucid dreams
- nightmares
- recurring dreams
- healing dreams
- prophetic dreams
- signal dreams
- epic dreams

Example of common dreams:
- Teeth Dreams
- Chase Dreams
- Falling Dreams
- Flying Dreams
- Naked Dreams
- Test Dreams

Problem Identification:
We have dreams every night whether we remember it or not but we seldom recall our dreams and we have never thought of the purpose of our dreams.

Aim & Objectives:
- to experience dreams when we are awake
- to explore dreams
- to show that dreams and reality are connected

Ideation & Concept:
The installation will consists of a bed, a pillow, and an alarm clock at the bedside. A video of a human’s head sleeping will be projected on a pillow. The eyes are closed, but movement of eyes under the eyelids can be seen. This is a sleeping stage called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) where dreams occur. A hot spot will be set at the entrance of where the installation is. When audience enters the place, the hot spot will be triggered, and visual of different types of dreams will be projected on the pillow randomly and sound effects will be generated. This is to show that dreams are connected with reality. When the audience touches on the alarm clock, the dreams disappear, the human awakes and the head reappear with the eyes open.

Motivation:
I dream every night whether it is something odd, strangers which I have never met before or repeated dreams and I have always been wondering the meaning of these dreams, the reason of my dreams.


The picture will tells everything.

*click for larger image

Slight change of idea

Somehow, ............................................
I don't really like my current idea.






-will update soon-

Scientists closer to visualizing dreams

Another interesting article that I found while I was doing research for my sri:
http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/06125805/Scientists-closer-to-visualizi.html

It says that the scientist in US have developed a mind-reading technique that will help them to analyze brain activity.

This means the possibility in the future to visualize scenes from someone’s dream by analyzing their brain activity with a medical scanner is higher.

* i would rather keep my dreams to myself >.<

The Dream Machine

This work of art is meant to be looked at with your eyes closed.

Dreams are projections

I was looking for references about dreams and reality, been searching it for few days, until i came across this website.
http://www.crystalinks.com/dreams.html

It has many interesting facts about dreams with nice images.
One of it is how the ancient civilizations (egypt, rome, celtic, greece, japan, china, indian, muslim, etc.....) recorded their dreams and their points of view towards dreams.

Idea & Content Development IV

Keyboard Hacking




























It's working!!

* Thanks to norman, the picasso group for their previous keyboard hack. At least I have a sample for me to continue on with other switches.

Idea & Content Development III

Since I am focusing on nightmare, recurring dream, lucid dream and daydream, I will do more research on these 4 dreams so that I can have a better understanding to visualize the dreams.

Idea & Content Development II

I am planning to do something like this for my installation. I will place all the objects on table. The top view of the objects will be shown on screen and the visual of dreams will only appear when user touch on any objects on the table.

As for the technical part, I will use keyboard hacking. A switch will be placed under each objects so that it will triggers visuals on screen when the user touch on the objects.
Other equipments that i need will include a projector and a webcam.















Since I am not good in wiring and technical part, I will just keep my installation simple and focus more on the visual part.

Content & Idea Development I

After squeezing my brain for weeks, I finally came out with this idea. Instead of using cubes, I will use objects to represent each dreams.

I have decided to focus on only 4 types of dreams which is nightmare, daydream, recurring dream and lucid dream.

nightmare - mask (mysterious, scary)
daydream - 1,000 000 000 (happy)
recurring dream - clock
(if u have read my previous post on types of dreams, u would know what this dream is. I use clock to represent this dream because the clock tickles everyday and the 3 needles repeat after the number 12 continuously without coming to an end)
lucid dream - origami paper
(in lucid dream, you can control your own dreams, just like a piece of paper, you can fold into anything you desire.

In my previous post, I proposed that 'a combination of more than 1 cube will create different visuals on screen.' Now that I am using the 4 objects to represent each dream, a combination of 2 objects means a combination of 2 dreams, which is weird.
So I decided to add 3 more objects for more interactions, and at the same time, it will achieves my 3 objectives.

Objectives:
- to show that dreams are connected with our reality. What we face in reality will affect the
content of our dreams.
- to explore dreams
- to have fun with dreams

flower - life
bulb - sunlight
bottle - water

In order for the flower to live and grow, sunlight and water is a necessity. These 3 objects represent life (which is our reality).
So, a combination of 1 dream and any of these 3 objects will create a different visual on screen.













"Dreams are metaphorical translations of waking expectations." - http://why-we-dream.com/thetheory.htm

Conclusion: It's all about metaphor-dreams is about symbol and symbol is metaphor. My purpose is to let the audience think, explore and have fun. Whichever combination of objects they choose will cause different visual(dreams) to appear on screen.

Planning (Gantt Chart)

FYP 1







FYP 2

Precedence Studies

Interactive Life























Video from http://www.plancton.com/relem/interlife.htm

I find the visual from this installation is quite interesting. Maybe I can do this kind of style
to represent the nightmare visual for my installation.

Recurring Dream Installation
























http://www.judithkindler.com/artists/collections/kindlerdreamsc.html

This is an art installation. The artist created a few same objects to reflect recurring dream (repeating dream).

Hands Percussion - Dreams in November

Date and Time：
19|20 Nov 8:30pm
14|15|21 Nov 3pm;8:30pm
22 Nov 3pm

Venue : Pentas 1, KLPac
Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan (off Jalan Ipoh),
Kuala Lumpur



Everyone dreams whether they remember it or not. Dreams give an insight into our inner thoughts, hidden feelings, fears or ambitions. They provide an unrestrained avenue for us to experience our greatest desires without the daily inhibitions we place on ourselves in real life. Often we hold back doing what we truly want because of fear. Fear of lack of skills, fear of failure, fear of being criticized or ridiculed. ‘Dreams in November’ is like an avenue of dreams for HANDS members. Regardless of quirkiness, being flashy or breaking with tradition and despite criticisms, these are the mini-movies which have been playing in their minds.

After 2007, HANDS has moved on, trying to go beyond our creativity and to reverse the extremely traditional theatre space to present our limitless dreams.

A collaboration between Bernard Goh, the Artistic Director of HANDS, Hands1 and Hands2 drummers, Susan Sarah John, Aluba Khan, Low Shee Hoe and Leng Poh Gee – it’s a concert not to be missed!

Website: www.hands.com.my
http://www.gwdw.org/2009/11/19-22-hands-percussion-dreams-in.html

* thanks to mingjie, but i didn't get to go

Use your dreams to reveal your emotions

Emotional Dreams
It all seems so real, it's not surprising people assume that dreams must have some use. And, according to Hamilton-Parker, they do. He believes they're a powerful way to improve your emotions and your relationships. 'No-one knows exactly what dreams are, but one theory is that it's your brain's way of stopping your emotions overheating,' he says. 'Which means while your unconscious mind churns away turning out all your crazy imaginings, it's also working out solutions to any problems or issues you're facing. And because dreams are intuitive, not logical, they're especially useful when it comes to discovering your true, gut feelings. 'That means once you learn to tap into your dreams, you can actually learn to use their lessons in waking life.

How to ask your dreams for answers
If you want to ask your dreams a question, write it down and put it under your pillow. Then, you've set your unconscious program in motion to answering your question. It could be, say, 'Is he the one for me?' When you wake up, write down everything about your dream immediately. Then, think about the way you feel about every element of your dream - the people, sights and sounds. First impressions count, as they'll express your gut feelings. And they're the key to finding an answer - although it might not be the one you want!

Reference: http://www.dreamsleep.net/dreams.html

Precedence Studies II

Precedence Studies I

Hacking a keyboard

1. Open up the keyboard
2. Trace the letters back to the pins
3. Note the pin layouts and shift registers
4. Attach the wires



















For more info:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hacking-a-USB-Keyboard/
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,1656176,00.asp
http://www.modd3d.com/articles/item/keyboard-hack

Dream VS Reality

What are dreams?

Are they real or imaginary?




















Are dreams connected with reality?

You do not see the reality every time. Your mind, dreams and reality are much inter-connected. Deja-Vu, Lucid dreams and Synchronicity are the set of experiences of mind over reality.

For more info: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-22-2005-64587.asp

Mind Map

Interpret your dreams here:

Interpret your dreams here:
http://www.dreamforth.com/

Common Dreams - Interpretation

Failing a test

This dream usually manifests itself in people who have been out of school for a long time. In the dream you are prevented from passing a test in a variety of different possible scenarios. In one scenario you find that you are unable to make it to the test on time, often through being unable to find the test room. In other versions you are unprepared (either through lack of study) or you are missing equipment. This dream usually means that you are feeling tested in some way in your real life. You may feel that you are unprepared for something or playing the wrong part in life.

Being Chased

Dreaming of being chased can be a truly horrifying experience. Most often the chaser is a monster or some person that is frightening, and occasionally it may be an animal. You may be surprised to know that this isthe most commonly experienced nightmare theme. The meaning of these dreams is that someone, something (possibly something as obscure as an emotion) is making you feel threatened. One way to determine the root of the threat is to ask yourself who or what in yourreal life most closely resembles the “creature” or circumstance in your dream. It is also worth noting that sometimes this dream is a replay of an actual event in your life.

Teeth dreams
Dreams about your teeth reflect your anxiety about your appearance and how others perceive you. Sadly, we live in a world where good looks are valued highly and your teeth play an important role in conveying that image. These dreams may stem from a fear of your sexual impotence or the consequences of getting old. Teeth are an important feature of our attractiveness and presentation to others. Everybody worries about how they appear to others. Caring about our appearance is natural and healthy. Another rationalization for these falling teeth dream may be rooted in your fear of being embarrassed or making a fool of yourself in some specific situation. These dreams are an over-exaggeration of your worries and anxiety.�

Teeth are used to bite, tear, chew and gnaw. In this regard, teeth represent power. And the loss of teeth in your dream may be from a sense of powerlessness. Are you lacking power in some current situation? Perhaps you are having difficulties expressing yourself or getting your point across. You feel frustrated when your voice is not being heard. You may be experiencing feelings of inferiority and a lack of self-confidence in some situation or relationship in your life. This dream is an indication that you need to be more assertive and believe in the value of your own opinion.

In the latest research, it has been shown that women in menopause have frequent dreams about teeth. This may be related to getting older and/or feeling unattractive and less feminine.

Naked dreams
In this type of dream you are in a state of undress, partial undress, or inappropriate dress (for example wearing pajamas to work). Occasionally you are the witness of another person who is naked while you are clothed. This is often accompanied by feelings of embarrassment and shame, but occasionally with the feeling of pride or freedom. The meaning of this dream is thatyou are feeling exposed, awkward, or vulnerable, or you are afraid that you have revealed too much of yourself (such as a secret or a very personal feeling) in a real life situation. An interesting fact about this type of dream is that it occurs much more frequently in people who are involved in a wedding ceremony in theirreal life.

Falling dreams
Flying dreams fall under a category of dreams known as lucid dreaming. Lucid dreams occur when you become aware that you are dreaming. Many dreamers describe the ability to fly in their dreams as an exhilarating, joyful, and liberating experience.

If you are flying with ease and enjoying the scene and landscape below, then it suggests that you are on top of a situation. You have risen above something. It may also mean that you have gained a different perspective on things. Flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is representative of your own personal sense of power.

Having difficulties staying in flight indicates a lack of power in controlling your own circumstances. You may be struggling to stay aloft and stay on course. Things like power lines, trees, or mountains may further obstruct your flight. These barriers represent a particular obstacle or person who is standing in your way in your waking life. You need to identify who or what is hindering you from moving forward. It may also be an indication of a lack of confidence. You need to believe in yourself and not be afraid.

If you are feeling fear when you are flying or that you feel that you are flying too high, then it suggests that you are afraid of challenges and of success. In reality, we cannot really fly, of course. Thus, such dreams may represent that which is beyond your physical limitations. In your mind, you can be anybody and do anything. Another way of interpreting flying dreams is that these dreams symbolize your strong mind and will. You feel undefeatable and nobody can tell you what you cannot do and accomplish. Undoubtedly these dreams leave you a great sense of freedom.

Faulty machinery
In the faulty machinery dream you are trying to operate mechanical equipment which either fails to work, or fails to work in the way that you expect it to. The vast majority of these dreams involve a telephone – either trouble dialing, losing a connection, or dialing a wrong number. It can involve a lost Internet connection, or something manual like a jammed or broken machine. This dream often means that you feel you are losing touch with reality, or that a part of your body or mind is not functioning as it should. It can also occur when you are feeling anxious about making a connection with another person in real life.

Lost or trapped












Dreaming about being lost is very common and will usually occur when you are having conflict in deciding how to react in a situation in real life. In the dream you are trying to find your way out of an area – such as a forest, city streets, a large building, or other maze-like structure. Another way this dream plays out involves you being trapped, buried alive, caught in a web, or unable to move for some other reason. This is often accompanied by a feeling of terror. This dream usually means thatyou are trapped in real life – unable to make the right choice.

Ill or dying
In this dream, you (or a loved one) are ill, injured, or dying. It is a moderately common dream and, not surprisingly, occurs often at the onset of an illness. Aside from becoming ill, this dream can mean thatyou are emotionally hurt or are afraid of becoming hurt. The dream may also be warning you of an upcoming physical risk to yourself or a loved one. When it is someone else in the dream that dies, it can mean that you feel that part of yourself (that you see represented by that person) is dead. It may also mean that you wish the person would go away, or that you fear losing them.

References:
http://www.dreammoods.com/commondreams/
http://listverse.com/2008/10/07/top-10-common-dreams-and-their-meanings/
http://www.analysedreams.co.uk/CommonDreamsCategory.html

How to interpret your dreams

Dreams:
How To Interpret Dreams

Types of dreams

Daydream
Daydreaming is classified as a level of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness. Studies show that you have the tendency to daydream an average of 70-120 minutes a day. It occurs during waking hours when you let your imagination carry you away. As your mind begins to wander and your level of awareness decreases, you lose yourself in your imagined scenario and fantasy.

False Awakening Dreams
Have you ever thought you have waken up and gone about your daily morning routine: getting up, brushing your teeth, eating breakfast and going to work, only to wake up "again" and realize that what just happened is just a dream. That sensation is referred to as a false awakening.

Lucid Dream
Lucid dreams give you the ability to control your own dreams and steer them toward the direction you want. In the lucid state, you are more willing to confront threats and as a result, become more self confident. When you achieve lucidity, you can use it as a tool to improve your sports game, to rehearse for a speech, to fulfill your fantasies, or to solve a problem in your waking life. In fact, some athletes utilize their lucid dreams to practice their tennis serve, golf stroke or bat swing. Even in your day to day life, you can use lucid dreams to ask the boss for a raise, prepare for a first date, overcome phobias, get over writer's block, etc. Lucid dreams can help you visualize and rehearse an event in your mind before it actually occurs. It helps to overcome fears and anxieties. The application of lucid dreams is limited only to your imagination.
Because brain activity during the dream state is the same as during a real life event, what you "learn" or "practice" in your lucid dream state is similar to the training and preparation you do in the waking world. Your neuronal patterns are already being conditioned.
At least half of all adults have had one lucid dream in their lifetime. Many have reported having lucid dreams without even trying. Often flying is associated with lucid dreams. With practice, lucid dreaming can be learned and achieved at your will.

How to lucid dream

Dreams:
How To Lucid Dream
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-lucid-dream

Nightmare
A nightmare is a disturbing dream that causes the dreamer to wake up feeling anxious and frightened. Nightmares may be a response to real life trauma and situations. These type of nightmares fall under a special category called Post-traumatic stress nightmare (PSN). Nightmares may also occur because we have ignored or refused to accept a particular life situation.

Research shows that most people who have regular nightmares have had a family history of psychiatric problems, bad drug experiences, people who have contemplated suicide, and/or rocky relationships. Nightmares are an indication of a fear that needs to be acknowledged and confronted. It is a way for our subconscious to make up take notice. "Pay attention!"

Recurring Dreams
Most dreams contain messages that serve to teach you something about yourself. However, soon after you wake up to go about your daily routine, you tend to quickly forget what you dream about. The message in recurring dreams may be so important and/or powerful that it refuses to go away. The frequent repetition of such dreams forces you to pay attention and confront the dream. It is desperately trying to tell you something. Such dreams are often nightmarish or frightening in their content, which also helps you to take notice and pay attention to them.
Recurring dreams are quite common and are often triggered by a certain life situation or a problem that keeps coming back again and again. These dreams may recur daily, once a week, or once a month. Whatever the frequency, there is little variation in the dream content itself. Such dreams may be highlighting a personal weakness, fear, or your inability to cope with something in your life - past or present.
The repetitive patterns in your dream reveal some of the most valuable information about yourself. It may point to a conflict, situation or matter in your waking life that remains unresolved or unsettled. Some urgent underlying message in your unconscious is demanding to be understood.

Healing Dreams
Healing dreams serve as messages for the dreamer in regards to their health. The Ancient Greeks called these dreams "prodromic". Many dream experts believe that dreams can help in avoiding potential health problems and healing when you are ill or when you are grieving. Research shows that asthma and migraine sufferers have certain types of dreams before an attack. Your bodies are able to communicate to your mind through dreams. The dreams can "tell" you that something is not quite right with your bodies even before any physical symptoms show up. Dreams of this nature may be telling the dreamer that he or she needs to go to the dentist or doctor. If you can understand the language of dreams, your dreams will serve as an invaluable early warning system. They can help inform, advise and heal.

Prophetic Dreams
Prophetic dreams, also referred to as precognitive or psychic dreams, are dreams that seemingly foretell the future. One rational theory to explain this phenomenon is that your dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information and observation that you may normally overlook or that you do not seriously consider. In other words, your unconscious mind knows what is coming before you consciously piece together the same information.

Epic Dreams
Epic dreams are so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that you cannot ignore them. The details of such dreams remain with you for years, as if your dreamt it last night. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology.

Reference:
http://bahcecikdevekusu.com/dreamcenter/types.htm
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes

The Importance Of Dreaming

1. To restore our body and mind.
2. To help with learning and memory.
3. To keep the brain at the right level of awareness and rest during sleep.
4. To allow the mind to handle disturbances in the night without waking up.
5. To keep our sense of self and wholeness through sleep.
6. To resolve conflicts that occur during the day.
7. To contextualize emotions from waking.

Sleep is necessary
Research has shown that people who are deprived from entering the dream phase of sleep, that is the REM stage, exhibit symptoms of irritability and even anxiety. Dreaming can be defined in various ways. For one, it is having thoughts, visions and other sensations that occupy the mind in sleep.

Reference: http://www.videojug.com/film/importance-of-dreaming

Dream facts

1. One-third of your lives is spent sleeping.
2. In an average lifetime, you would have spent a total of about six years of it dreaming. That is more than 2,100 days spent in a different realm!
3. Dreams have been here as long as mankind. Back in the Roman Era, striking and significant dreams were submitted to the Senate for analysis and interpretation.
4. Everybody dreams. EVERYBODY! Simply because you do not remember your dream does not mean that you do not dream. In fact, you have several dreams during a normal night of sleep.
5. Dreams are indispensable. A lack of dream activity can mean protein deficiency or a personality disorder.
6. On average, you can dream anywhere from one or two hours every night. Moreover, you can have four to seven dreams in one night.
7. Blind people do dream. Whether visual images appear in their dream depends on whether they were blind at birth or became blind later in life. But vision is not the only sense that constitutes a dream. Sounds, tactility, and smell become hypersensitive for the blind and their dreams are based on these senses.
8. Five minutes after the end of the dream, half the content is forgotten. After ten minutes, 90% is lost.
9. The word dream stems from the Middle English word, dreme which means "joy" and "music".
10. Men tend to dream more about other men, while women dream equally about men and women.
11. Studies have shown that your brain waves are more active when you are dreaming than when we are awake.
12. Dreamers who are awakened right after REM sleep, are able to recall their dreams more vividly than those who slept through the night until morning.
13. Physiologically speaking, researchers found that during dreaming REM sleep, males experience erections and females experience increased vaginal blood flow - no matter what the content of the dream. In fact, "wet dreams" may not necessarily coincide with overtly sexual dream content.
14. People who are giving up smoking have longer and more intense dreams.
15. Toddlers do not dream about themselves. They do not appear in their own dreams until the age of 3 or 4.
16. If you are snoring, then you cannot be dreaming.
17. Nightmares are common in children, typically beginning at around age 3 and occurring up to age 7-8.
18. In a poll, 67% of Americans have experienced Deja Vu in their dreams, occurring more often in females than males.
19. Around 3% of adults suffer from sleep apnea. This treatable condition leads to unexplained tiredness and inefficiency.
20. Research has shown that the house is the most common setting for dreams.
21. It is very normal for males to experience an erection during the REM stage of sleep, even when they are not dreaming anything of a sexual nature.
22. The original meaning of the word "nightmare" was a female spirit who besets people at night while they sleep.

Reference: http://www.dreammoods.com

The Mechanics of Dreaming

While you are dreaming, your body undergoes noticeable changes. Your adrenaline rises, your blood pressure increases, and you heart beats faster. Given this hyperactivity, it should be no surprise how someone with a weak heart can die in their sleep. Their heart may not be able to withstand the strain and the erratic changes that their body is going through.

Dreaming takes place during REM, which stands for Rapid Eye Movement. It is thus called, because your eyes move rapidly back and forth under the eyelids. REM sleep takes place in the fourth stage of sleep and accounts for 15-20% of your sleep time. From the point you fall asleep, it takes 30 to 90 minutes before you start dreaming. You cycle through the 4 stages of sleep and may enter the REM stage 4 to 7 times in one night. During REM, your blood pressure and heart rate fluctuate and increase. It sounds like your body is going through a lot, but in fact, it is quite the contrary. During REM, your bodies are completely immobile and your muscles remain completely relaxed. You may shift in your bed throughout the night, but when in REM, you are completely still. This is commonly known as "REM Paralysis".

In REM sleep, the mind is as active as it is during waking. However, chemically it is different. REM is controlled by the excitability level of the cholinergic neruons. Noradrenaline and seratonin are missing in the brain when in the dream state. These chemicals allow the brain to carry out task, solve problems and remember things. This is a reason why you find it so hard to remember your dreams.

Reference: http://dreamology.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/the-sleep-cycle/

The sleep cycle

The sleep cycle is known to repeat itself four to five times during an average persons single nights sleep, but has been know to repeat itself up to seven times. You can certainly see how it is possible for one person to have several different dreams in one night.

Most people only ever really remember the last dream they have; the one that occurs closer to the morning, before they wake up. Just because you do not remember those earlier dreams in the sleep cycle does not mean they never happened, it is just a case that you don’t remember them.

1. Stage one is characterised by NREM or non rapid eye movement. It is fundamentally the stage in which you are entering light sleep. Your muscles become relaxed, your heart rate becomes slower and your body temperature drops.
2. Stage two is also characterised by the NREM, but there is a further drop in body temperature and the muscle relaxation deepens. This is when the body’s immune system begins it’s task of repairing the body. In this stage, you are completely asleep.
3. Stage three sees that you are still within the NREM stage, but the sleep you are experiencing is very deep, with your metabolic levels being very slow.
4. Stage four is the point when the most vivid dreams occur. You move into the REM stage, where your eyes are erratically moving. Your heart rate rises along with blood pressure and your breathing may become irregular as your brain activity increases. If you are to wake during this stage of the sleep cycle, then this is where you are most likely to remember your dreams accurately.

Reference: http://dreamology.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/the-sleep-cycle/

History of dreams

Dream interpretations dates back to 3000-4000 B.C. were they were documented in clay tablets. It is said that people in primal societies were unable to distinguish between the dream world and reality. They not only saw the dream world as an extension of reality, but the dream realm was a more powerful world.

Back in the Greek and Roman era, dream interpreters accompanied military leaders into battle. Dreams were extremely significant and often seen as messages from the gods. They were seen in a religious context and in Egypt, priests also acted as dream interpreters. The Egyptians recorded their dreams in hieroglyphics.

People with particular vivid and significant dreams were believed to be blessed and were considered special. People who had the power to interpret dreams were looked up to and seen as divinely gifted. In the bible, there are over seven hundred mentions of dreams. Tracing back to these ancient cultures, people had always had an inclination to interpret dreams.

Dreams were also seen as prophetic. People often looked to their dreams for signs of warning and advice. It was an oracle or omen from outside spirits, whether it was a message from a deity, from the dead or even the works of a demon. Dreams often dictated the actions of political and military leaders and aided in diagnosis for the medicine men. Dreams was a vital clue for healers in what was wrong with the dreamer and used them to make a diagnosis. People in ancient Greece and ancient China looked to their dreams for their next course of action.

Dreaming can be seen as an actual place that your spirit and soul leaves every night to go and visit. The Chinese believed that the soul leaves the body to go into this world. However, if they should be suddenly awakened, their soul may fail to return to the body. For this reason, some Chinese today, are wary of alarm clocks. Some Native American tribes and Mexican civilizations share this same notion of a distinct dream dimension. They believed that their ancestors lived in their dreams and take on non-human forms like plants. They see that dreams as a way of visiting and having contact with their ancestors.

Dreams also helped to point their mission or role in life. In the early 19th century, dreams were dismissed as stemming from anxiety, a household noise or even indigestion. Hence there was really no meaning to it. Later on in the 19th century, Sigmund Freud revived the importance of dreams and its significance and need for interpretation. He revolutionized the study of dreams.

Reference: http://bahcecikdevekusu.com/dreamcenter/history.htm

What causes dreams?

Dreams serve a purpose. They serve a specific function for our bodies and mind. While many dream analysts at the turn of the century focused on dream interpretations, dream experts of today focus on the scientific approach of what causes dreams. Dream Analyst and author Craig Webb says before we can look at what causes dreams, we must understand what dreams are to begin with. “Usually we define a dream as an experience remembered upon awakening that comes through nonphysical channels. Basically, it is an altered experience we have when we are sleeping and that we remember when we wake. However, there are lots of other variations on the definition. Some people define dreams as life goals and wishes for the future. This is another way we use the word.

According to the Freudian school, dreams are the result of subconscious thoughts and desires. The other extreme attributes dreams to random "noise" in the neurons without special meaning.
There is definitely value behind dreams nevertheless; nobody knows precisely, that causes them. The general theory - which they occur from subconscious thoughts from our daily thoughts and actions. It is true, things which we underline about the majority; apparently, take a priority in our dreams, though not always.

Reference: http://www.types-of-dreams.net/what-causes-dreams.html

Dream & Oneirology

What is dream?
- a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep.
- the sleeping state in which this occurs.
- an object seen in a dream.

Reference: http://dictionary.reference.com

Oneirology
The term oneirology refers to the systematic study of dreams within a scientific framework. As such it must be distinguished from oneiromancy which refers to using dreams for divinatory purposes. Both words come from the Greek oneiro - "dream".
The birth of oneirology as a discipline is often dated to the 1950s and the discovery by Kleitman and Aserinsky of the sleep cycle and the subsequent discovery of REM sleep. However the term itself goes back much further - Freud himself used it in his classic The Interpretation of Dreams.

Reference: http://www.here-be-dreams.com/dreams/oneirology.html

Critical commentaries on social behavior in Malaysia

To dream a dream

Most Malaysians do not have dreams. They are either not ambitious enough or they are fear to dream because they are fear of failure. On the contrary, those who have dreams do not take their dreams seriously. They give up their dreams without trying their best when they face any obstacles.

Those who have dreams never really take the initiative to fulfill it. They give up before they put in their best efforts to make their dreams come true. They should be more persistent. Some are not confident with their own abilities or they feel insecure, therefore, they hold back their dreams. This is why there are so many jobless people in Malaysia. Once they face failure, they were scared to stand up again. They were scared of embarrassment and the way society might think of them or they think it is impossible to achieve because it is too difficult.








Dreams are important because it gives us something to aim for and it helps to improve ourselves. It inspires us and gives us motivation to do something out of our expectations.













follow your dreams...

How to achieve your dreams? To achieve a dream is not easy. If it is easy, achieving them would not make them worthwhile. Nevertheless, we should aim high and think big.
The first step is to set a goal for ourselves. Then, discover our passion and starts to dream. We should believe in our abilities and do not quit when it gets hard. Struggle and work really hard, believing that it is possible to achieve these dreams. If you have the passion to go the distance, then you are closer than you think.

These are blogs created for Malaysians to think of a dream or a desire they have for Malaysia to produce a better generation for the nation.
http://we-are-malaysians.blogspot.com/
http://www.dream.net.my/country/main.php

Give your dreams a chance --------> http://blog.thestar.com.my/permalink.asp?id=7956

How is this issue addressed in my project?
It is all about dreams. I would like the audiences to learn more about dreams and the importance of dreams. We succeed because we believe in ourselves, we believe in dreams. Everything is possible. If you can dream, you can do it!

An interactive installation of 'Dreams'

The Death of Dreams (Interactive Installation) from AWESOME ▲ MOUNTAIN on Vimeo.

Final Proposal

Topic: Dreamspace












Background:
Dreams are images, thoughts, sounds, or emotions that pass through our mind when we sleep. Everyone dreams. It is just a matter of whether we remember it or not. Everyone’s dream is unique as it is connected with our own reality-background and experiences. Study shows that dreams help you to tackle stress. Dreaming is a necessity as it helps to recharge mind and revitalize your body.

Some individuals believe that dreams can see into the future. There is no scientific proof yet that dreams may predict our future but there are many cases where people dreams and it eventually came true.

Type of dreams:
- daydreams
- false awakening dreams
- lucid dreams
- nightmares
- recurring dreams
- healing dreams
- prophetic dreams
- signal dreams
- epic dreams

Example of common dreams:
- Teeth Dreams
- Chase Dreams
- Falling Dreams
- Flying Dreams
- Naked Dreams
- Test Dreams

Dream Theorists:
- Alfred Adler
- Sigmund Freud
- Carl Jung
- Frederick Perls

Problem Identification:
We dream every night whether we remember it or not but we seldom recall our dreams and we have never thought of the purpose of our dreams.

Aim & Objective:
- to show that dreams are connected with our reality, what we face in reality will affect the content of our dreams.
- to explore dreams
- to have fun with dreams.

Ideation & Concept:
5 objects (with sensor) will be placed in a dark area, with a screen in front. Each object will represent a type of dream. When user touch on the objects, different visuals will show on screen. A combination of more than 1 object will create different effects on screen. When the object is shaken, the visual will turn blur.

- the screen represent our brain
- visuals on the screen represent our memories.
- the object is the reality
- when we sleep, these object interact with our memories to create a new world; dream.
- what we face/do in the reality will affect our dreams.

In lucid dream, we are able to control our own dreams and manipulate the imaginary experiences in the dream environment.























Motivation:
I dream every night whether it is something odd, strangers which I have never met before or repeated dreams and I have always been wondering the meaning of these dreams, the reason of my dreams.

"Dreams are the touchstones of our characters." - Henry David Thoreau

References:
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/
http://www.dreamviews.com/
http://dreamemporium.com/why_we_dream.html