It actually read my eye movements as I slept and could identify when I was in REM sleep. I was able to set the lights to come on at a particular point in the REM cycle and I could vary the type of flashing pattern that I wanted to receive.

At the preset time into each dream, it would flash and I would have to recognize this, as the flashing lights would manifest themselves in some form in my dream.

When I would recognize that the lights were actually my Nova Dreamer, and I had done a reality check (usually by lifting off the ground), then I would purposefully shift my eyes back and forth from left to right several times in my dream. This would cause a corresponding movement in my real eyes, and the Nova Dreamer would read this and stop blinking.

It could also emit sound (some electronic beeps)if I wanted, and I had a complementary device that plugged into it, on which I could record a message to myself or anything else I wanted to play at that time.

This type of dream mask works like a charm. You just have to train yourself to recognize the flashing lights, which could take a wide variety of forms within your dreams. The mask was very comfortable and it was battery powered with no wires unless the voice recorder was hooked up as well.

I have no idea if these masks are still available. I think I paid around $250 for mine and it was totally worth it. If you can find one, I highly recommend it!