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The Blinking LED, A simple Hack that still works for me after years: 1. Place a tiny LED (red or yellow) by the side of your monitor or virtually on the scree

The Blinking LED, A simple Hack that still works for me after years: 1. Place a tiny LED (red or yellow) by the side of your monitor or virtually on the screen corner. Basically anywhere almost bordering your field of view. 2. Make it blink like a fast heartbeat (120-150 bpm) and gradually slowdown to around 60 bpm (or your slow heartbeat base). Make the slope approx 20 to 60 minutes (you can adjust the best rate by testing in 10m increments after a few days in one setting). Now... 3. Get to work regardless if distracted and agitated. Close all apps except what you need to work and BOOM!, let the magic happen. Without realising, your brain will try to sync with the light that you can barely see, calming you down and allowing you to go focus-mode with the task in had. Works like hypnosis! It is also a cheap hack... I build my unit with a cheap ESP32 and heart-rate sensor to sync deeper and dynamically adjust the slope... Will explain better if any interest. No science behind (only principles), I just hammered a solution like any Ape with the shakes would need!

atcalan 3y ago
Sounds like a time timer. The ventromedial pfc is the culprit here. Time blindness.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  It's like a maestro, guiding you down with light not sound or words. So, yes. Done at PFC level probably ; )
gregsadetsky 3y ago
Fascinating! A few questions: - once the LED has slowed down to 60 bpm, do you keep it at that tempo for the rest of the day? for a few hours? do you ever go back to 120 bpm and then go back down? - generally speaking, how did you come up with the idea? - do you think that a software version (i.e. some blinking pixels in the top right corner of a monitor) would work, or is the intensity of the LED (i.e. the fact that it's not part of the monitor) part of the reason why it works? - could you also talk about the heart-rate sensor - how do you use it / how does it affect the bpm algorithm? Thanks!
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Sure, Here is what I did to my current v.3+ - Once it reaches the lowest rate, the LED goes off after a 30min timer set, it fades the light over that time under the same blinking rate. So I won't notice. - The Idea comes from desperation really, mostly curiosity on why sound beats from upbeat music had a effect to improve mood, i.e. work more at gym. Also the idea that your brain will take patterns and try to synch with. Check PubMed (few articles about) - I started with a software version (v.1 and v2) and then a hardware one. No idea why, but hardware (as a side device) works really good. I 3D printed a tiny case and it is discreetly below my iMac screen powered by the USB. Look like an old modem but tiny. Finally... - I added the heart monitor (a cheap cable and wrist sensor) to see if I could shorten the time to achieve the lowest rate of blink based on my heart response instead of waiting the time or trying to read brainwave pattern (I try measuring voltage and electric wave form, from a headband I bought and returned after a rapid test) but the signal would mix with the work in front of me, so useless and expensive. Using heart rate looks cheap, non-intrusive and effective to shorten the time, it goes 1/3 of time to get lowest, could use an apple watch vs cable and sensor but I'm cheap. ; )
  - gregsadetsky 3y ago
    Thanks, super interesting! There was research some time ago (jeez, 10 years ago...) [0] [1] that used video and... computer vision algorithms to detect a person's heart rate without any devices. Wondering if it could be used here i.e. use your webcam instead of an external hardware sensor? Other thing - would you be open to publishing/sharing your algorithm / esp32 code (on Github or as a blog article)? [0] https://news.mit.edu/2012/amplifying-invisible-video-0622 https://news.mit.edu/2012/amplifying-invisible-video-0622 [1] https://people.csail.mit.edu/mrub/vidmag/ https://people.csail.mit.edu/mrub/vidmag/
    - TheRealHB 3y ago
      We use this approach of video heartbeat detection on a real product (recruiting tool) but not for my hack ADHD device, You can't really do video detection it in real time and properly, without overheating the cheap device. On the SaaS we did we use a recorded segment of video so we can analyse it afterwards, check the colour changes in the face of the subject and try estimate heartbeat with loose accuracy. More like high, Normal, Low after taking a few seconds as base. The idea of the ADHD device was just a cheap hack done in a day for myself. Not a product or commercial as I don't feel claiming it can do to others what I looks like does to me. Happy to share here FREE ; )
cmplxconjugate 3y ago
This should be a product.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Thanks for the complement, I guess you would be a client (few comments) I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. Not my view for this one as it is a personal issue. I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like it does for me. Also I'm not basing it on anything scientific other than raw experimental data from 1. I'm happy to share it here and FREE for everyone. I run a tiny tiny tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )
voisin 3y ago
Have you considered building this as a product and selling it? I could see this with a kickstarter or even Shark Tank!
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Hi thanks for complement, I guess you would be a client ; ) No, I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. For this personal issue, I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like what it does for me. Also I'm not based on anything other than experimental data. I'm happy to share it here and FREE. I run a tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )
zubairq 3y ago
Great idea, where can I buy one?
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Explained before under another comment ; ) ... Thanks for the complement, I guess you would be a client (few comments) I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. Not my view for this one as it is a personal issue. I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like it does for me. Also I'm not basing it on anything scientific other than raw experimental data from 1. I'm happy to share it here and FREE for everyone. I run a tiny tiny tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )
nonethewiser 3y ago
Seems likely to be a placebo. You have a vested interest in it working, admit its not based on any sort of science, and one of the setup steps is to overcome distraction (which is the problem that’s trying to be solved).
- disgruntledphd2 3y ago
  > Seems likely to be a placebo. You have a vested interest in it working, admit its not based on any sort of science, and one of the setup steps is to overcome distraction (which is the problem that’s trying to be solved). Fundamentally, if it works for the OP, who the hell cares? And how would you even double-blind test this anyway?
  - autoexec 3y ago
    > And how would you even double-blind test this anyway? Get lights that either start fast and slow down or blink at speeds that randomly change then use serial numbers to track which lights are which, but send them out at random to test subjects?
    - disgruntledphd2 3y ago
      Which treatment you're in is relatively easily detectable, so unfortunately that wouldn't work. I like the approach though, it would be a reasonable control condition (assuming that the 60bpm is a core part of the effect).
      - mattnewton 3y ago
        you would blind the participants to the effect you are looking to measure. If they don’t know what to expect or what conditions there are, they can still get a placebo effect from random patterns.
        disgruntledphd2 3y ago
        > you would blind the participants to the effect you are looking to measure. If they don’t know what to expect or what conditions there are, they can still get a placebo effect from random patterns. Maybe. Generally you'd do a manipulation check at the end to ensure that people couldn't identify what condition they were in. Additionally, that's single blind rather than double blind.
maskil 3y ago
"Make the slope approx 20-60 minutes", to be clear does this mean it should take that period of time to gradually go from 120 to 20-60?
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Yes, I started with a 1 hour slope... from 150 to 60 over that time. Also it is not really a blink but a quick fade in/out effect not a flash.
herculity275 3y ago
Do you have a script you could share?
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Just use any blinking LED template code that your OEM offers for your particular board (ESP32 or alike) as it will be specific for the PIN the LED is wired and libraries available, etc. Basically a function slope with a value from 150 to 60 that calls "blinks" over an hour, when at the end it turns off LED. You can make it smoother, add the heartbeat sensor, make it pulse instead of blink, that stuff will be particular to whatever you have at hand. GPT for such simple code after explaining the device and pointing to documentation should be a 3-4 shot process. My one is horribly inefficient and shameful to share : )
  - chipsrafferty 3y ago
    What if I don't know what any of that means? I only know how to code, never used a "board" but I want to try this
    - TheRealHB 3y ago
      I see, well in that case just search for ESP32 on Amazon and get one for a $5, then look for a few videos on Youtube who to program for a ESP32 board and you will probably learn as a first example something to control the board's LED. From that you will be half way, just modify and try things out ; )
- tsegers 3y ago
  Here's what I cobbled together for Arduino [1]. It ain't pretty, but it's short and it works. [1] https://paste.sr.ht/~tsegers/53adaecd734e7159352f152ac1dcc855ee122d93 https://paste.sr.ht/~tsegers/53adaecd734e7159352f152ac1dcc85...
  - TheRealHB 3y ago
    Looking good for a test run indeed!
flir 3y ago
Intriguing. Wonder if sound would work also.
- imposter 3y ago
  I used to hear to Hucci alot back in the day because most of his songs would hover around 60-70 BPM, I'd gather it was having a similar effect.
  - flir 3y ago
    I use Erik Satie a lot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyhBJzuixM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyhBJzuixM). Also ASMR videos of mechanical keyboards (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5blZL1P4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5blZL1P4). Wonder what a light with some randomness would do. You could hook up some physiological monitors and try all kinds of light patterns.
- ethanbond 3y ago
  Try Endel! Works great for this type of stuff IMO.
  - flir 3y ago
    Does seem good. I laid it on top of some typing sounds, and it's a bit elevator muzak but that might be why it works.
- FrankyHollywood 3y ago
  Nice idea, but sound distracts me very much, I just wanted to suggest a package deal: blinking led with a pair of noise canceling earbuds :)
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  It does, but the blinking was better in my case. I used to do beats high to low, instrumental music basically. ; )
- shambulatron 3y ago
arsome 3y ago
You could probably just implement this in software on a side monitor even...
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  I explained above on another question, did started as Software (v.1 and v.2) but I guess my brain tried to ignore and sabotage the work on the screen, so I placed as a tiny device underneath (gotcha F brains!). Like tricking the brain to see as not part of the work. ; )
koonsolo 3y ago
> Get to work regardless if distracted and agitated. Close all apps except what you need to work and BOOM!, let the magic happen Isn't this the part that actually does the heavy lifting to get stuff done?
- simplyluke 3y ago
  Most productivity hacks are window dressing around this.
  - koonsolo 3y ago
    Yeah, but this blinking light is still at another level. I'm glad it works for the OP, but to me this really stood out as pretty absurd. Sounds a bit like: I have a hard time falling asleep, so I have this blinking light next to my bed. I take a sleeping pill and let the magic happen. My heart rate then syncs to the light and I fall asleep. This light works great!
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  No really what I was trying to say but get your point. The idea is that you sit at your desk even if too agitated and remove the visual distractions that aren't work so your eyes will either look at work or the blinking led. I have an iPad by the side so I can't see the screen but will open from time to time to check emails. So, stare at the screen even if you don't feel like it and try 1o-15min.... if you forget and realised an hour passed and the blink stoped it... then it worked! ; )
- ChrisRR 3y ago
  This part seems like "draw the rest of the fucking owl"
ark4579 3y ago
oh sh*t. here we go again. another IoT that I would love to start and then abandon for some reason knowing full well how fix it but not find the "time" to do it.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  I Did't get this one... It is not broken, it works, I just don't feel it should be a commercial product as I'm not comfortable in claiming it can do what it does for me. Happy to share FREE here, ; )
- ChrisRR 3y ago
  IOT? It's a blinking LED, pretty much always the first thing you learn in embedded. No need for internet, just an LED and a microcontroller.
makeworld 3y ago
Reminds me of this: https://jacobshapiro.substack.com/p/teaching-at-the-brains-tempo https://jacobshapiro.substack.com/p/teaching-at-the-brains-t...
- lelanthran 3y ago
  What would be really useful is a follow-up study that used GPs LED optical trick to influence the brainwave frequency. IOW, set the frequency to a known external stimulus, and see if the effect still holds.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Interesting stuff indeed!
sonicanatidae 3y ago
OMG. I could not do this. I hope it's useful to others, but not for me...at all. The biggest distraction for me, when working/focusing, is movement at the edge of my vision. You know, like most websites with their moving ads, or fly-out videos that no one asked for, etc. I'm glad you found your silverbullet, but that specific approach would wreck my productivity.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  I don't recommend my solution BUT Your description is close to what I experience at times, that blinking thing may help you ignore outside the monitor distractions as it is there forcing you to ignore? Interesting, Do one and tell me ; ) I cost me $25 or less.... all spares ESP32 (most of them has a LED pinned anyways) and don't bother the heart monitor initially, just set time and rate of descent for the blink. Cheap test...
  - sonicanatidae 3y ago
    I'm fortunate in that I can control my office enough that I can simply eliminate the distractions. For the rest, there's pihole, Brave and Ublock. ;) I may try this, as an experiment, but going into it, I'm expecting a fail. If I do try it, I'll follow up.
    - TheRealHB 3y ago
      You can't lose as even if it does not work much for you, you will get the building pleasure for sure.
      - sonicanatidae 3y ago
        Agreed and part of why I'm a career long SysAdmin is I like to tinker. :)
- ChrisRR 3y ago
  Same. I can't stand people hovering around my desk. Every little thing they do or say distracts me.
jblezo 3y ago
Nice tip. Thanks for sharing. I'll probably try this by making a cheap one with one of my kids' microbits. This seems like the perfect board for doing this.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Its a simple project and yes, microbit will be fine! Good luck!
scns 3y ago
I like Binaural Beats for this, plenty of Apps on offer. Started out with this one and hacked a bit on it, never published my version though: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.binauralbeats/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.binauralbeat... Now i'm pretty content with this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.rbxproject https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.rb... And this tune, it now is on my phone and every PC thanks to NewPipe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WNB9JN_2o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WNB9JN_2o
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Yes, it could be the placebo effect, but placebo works wonders ; ) I detailed better aspects on a question above, Mostly when I added the heart monitor, somehow I can measure that the time to lowest blink got shorter and I'm not paying attention to the device at all. When I realise it us OFF I can see the logs and see how long it take vs the heartbeat to sync. Also, I build myself so I like there was no marketing or product to trust, just test and adjust.
JaDogg 3y ago
Oh no, now this is going to distract me until I built such blinking LED :(
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Nice one! Be distracted! VERY distracted indeed.... then try it out to calm you down! Loop
swah 3y ago
Found an use to my m5stick C+ , will try this
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Great little device, and you don't need to 3D print a case : )
timsayshey 3y ago
Inspired by this post I threw together a new open source desktop app that has an annoying always on top window that has a flashing timer, this seems to accomplish the same thing. https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock
- smithcoin 3y ago
  How were you able to manage the window always being on top? I thought you had to disable SIP for that on MacOS.
  - timsayshey 3y ago
    In Electron it's super easy. Just set alwaysOnTop to true: https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock/blob/main/src/background.js#L9 https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock/blob/main/src/bac...
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  That's cool! I get stressed just looking at it ; ) Jokes aside, whatever works... For me a side device with a pulsating red light with a heart sync for the lope do the gig! Deadlines comes free. Nice one!
kristianp 3y ago
Why does the rate have to start high and slow down?
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  In principle yes, Anything you get aware that goes fast-to-slow in a smooth gradient is the idea. I tried sound (beats) on a headphone with some tracks, then build a tiny app to show pixels on the screen (blink) and then settled on a LED on a prototyping board type of device (ESP32) as a quick project and that worked. I only improved by adding the heart sensor months later, now I don't think about it much, Now even If I'm not aware of, every time I turn the iMac it powers the device via the USB and so it starts anyway at 150bpm when the heart sensor is not responding or not detecting anything. After an hour it gets to 60 and the light fades out.... I'm not aware when it goes off, so I guess it is working ; ) Few people here posted code, ideas and I added the device pic I used (similar) and the sensors... you can buil one with almost anything and try! Good luck!
28304283409234 3y ago
Would some blinking pixels in a corner of the screen not also work?
darkclouds 3y ago
[dead]
kamaal 3y ago
Do you have pictures of the set up? Do share for the benefit of the masses.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Sure, May do a pic later when back home, meanwhile... I used this ESP32 board, it has RGB LED right in the middle, here is a web picture of one: https://dfimg.dfrobot.com/nobody/wiki/8a1de42ec21a99f36f69da0ca42db5e9.png https://dfimg.dfrobot.com/nobody/wiki/8a1de42ec21a99f36f69da... Its a Fire Beetle ESP32 E V.1.0, I bought cheap <$15 don't remember when or from who anymore... The heart monitor is from a study kit (Chinese brand) My whole set is similar (not the same, not my picture) to this: https://pic-microcontroller.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Building-a-MicroPython-heart-rate-monitor-Finding-the-beat-in-HR-sensor-data.jpg https://pic-microcontroller.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/B... Enjoy ! ; )
monkeydreams 3y ago
My daughter suffers from functional seizures due to FND and we do something similar with counting. When she is suffering from a complex motor tic we will ask her to count at a "comfortable speed" - which is always 100+ counts per minute. She will then slow down the counting until we reach 60 counts per minute at which point she has usually transitioned to a less intrusive tic or she has ceased ticcing altogether. > I just hammered a solution like any Ape with the shakes would need! This is an underrated approach. Following hunches and suspicions often leads to solutions that a pure evidence-based approach might miss or delay; especially if your suspicion goes against the prevaling wisdom.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Really interesting to learn about your solution for you daughter, great to see it works and appreciated the comment of my approach being an underrated one. My case isn't anything as relevant as yours and maybe that's why I did not much of research, easy going for a crude trial.
OneOffAsk 3y ago
I just listened to a podcast, Huberman, that discussed how to improve your ability to task switch. Apparently, there’s some connection to how your mind perceives time. He mentioned an exercise to improve your ability to task switch that manipulates how your mind perceives time, switching back-and-forth between slowing it down and speeding it up. I think the inability to task switch is a big part of ADHD and this thing you’re describing really sounds similar to what Huberman was discussing. Now, I’m not a doctor and I have no idea what I’m talking about here. Every time I start talking about this stuff I imagine my doctor friend sitting in the corner of the room shaking his head (maybe some of you saying it’s placebo should do the same).
ChrisRR 3y ago
I don't get this at all. What does the little flashing light achieve? I find minor irritations like this very distracting so I'm not really sure what the theory is
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  My guess is that may be working more like a simple "maestro" telling your brain orchestra and heart drummer to reduce the speed from Heavy metal to Ballad and that somehow makes easy to focus in what's in front of you? I make no claims here, I did it for me and looks like it works, not scientifically based or proven, not even tested on more than 1. So, no idea if can or will work for you ; ) That said, I'm now curious with so many comments to see how it will perform for those building versions to test. Its a 20min project, free for those already with prototyping board around. The key for me was to remove to my marginal angle of vision, not on the screen (like an app), the moment I moved outside and wasn't in front of it it work best. If you see it directly it does distract you indeed.
BaculumMeumEst 3y ago
i coded up an entire program to blink according to what you described before i it occurred to me my screen only runs at 60hz lol
- anticrymactic 3y ago
  Thankfully, heartrates are only in the single digit frequencies, so that shouldn't be a problem. 60 BPM = 1 Hz
  - BaculumMeumEst 3y ago
    thank you for the correction. i blame one or all of fever delirium, lack of coffee, and allergy to math for this mistake. thank god i'm using a shitposting account.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  ; )
gcatalfamo 3y ago
Fascinating, but I have photo-sensitivity and continuous blinking would give me an headache. But I used to reproduce a similar behaviour with music (repetitive)
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  I didn't like the blinking at first, so I made it pulse instead (smoother) but was never to the point of headaches. that said, sound should work if you can keep a headset ; )
dofdial 3y ago
great. i am trying this now with a chrome-shortcut, window size 50x50, stay on top, js with blinking background on the bottom rigth corner of the screen. If it helps, i will use a esp32. thanks.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Nice, Let me know how if works for you, for me only the hardware (led outside the screen perimeter) works best.
maliker 3y ago
ChatGPT coded up a simple python script to do this for me if anyone would like to test it out. Here's the script: https://gist.github.com/dpinney/a3c0b1f333ef89748fa12d057a553193 https://gist.github.com/dpinney/a3c0b1f333ef89748fa12d057a55...
- loamaa 3y ago
  Thanks for this initial go at the blinking LED script! I went ahead and tried to add some quality-of-life features to this that I wanted. I've never used pyqt before, so I admit I had help from google and copilot figuring out methods. Anyways, here is an updated version that has a few more configurations for background color, circle color, slowdown period, graceful window resizing, and graceful shutdown. https://gist.github.com/rzwiefel/4527d40de25a7fd5a723016fbd416834 https://gist.github.com/rzwiefel/4527d40de25a7fd5a723016fbd4...
  - TheRealHB 3y ago
    Looks good! Try doing one on a physical device too... My settings are just related to fade after reaching target or turn off immediately, Led colour (my ESP32 has a RGB onboard) and blink or pulse. Then there is a Start & Stop rate (150-60) as standard and IF sensor is connected or has data (heart) those values adjust too. Nice one!
atlas_hugged 3y ago
Bruh, I think you’re onto something here. Definitely going to try this. Thanks a mil
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Hope it works for you too ; ) Try without a heart monitor first (cheap and easy to build) then improve as you see fit!
floydax 3y ago
This got me so intrigued that I built https://github.com/vlameiras/tranquiled https://github.com/vlameiras/tranquiled in order to have similar behaviour but in the screen itself. Nothing fancy, just curious to try it out!
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Nice one! I will be curious to learn if that works for others too. In my case v.1 and 2 were apps with a similar on screen red dot like yours. Much smaller and first placed at the status-bar (like the cock ":" blinking) then floating on screen lower left corner. Things got interesting and worked best for me after I remove the light from the actual screen I must look at to work. Hence the device use, and then later the heart sensor. The key (I guess) is to make you brain see it but not you (if that makes sense?). Something like you looking at your screen but can still see if an Ant moves nearby or your phone shows a notification. Near your screen but not on it ; ) In any case, great little test, and eager for any feedback you can get.
loco5niner 3y ago
ChatGPT got me a similar HTML based solution with this prompt (F11 for full scren): Create a simple web page with a red blinking LED in the top-left corner. The LED should start blinking at 150 BPM and gradually slow down to 60 BPM. The initial size of the LED should be 40px, and it should completely disappear during the "off" phase. Additionally, include a red box shadow during the "on" phase of the blink. Please use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the implementation. Adjust the code as needed for clarity and readability.
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  These days with GPT and the lot there is really no reason not to try stuff. Nice one!
  - loco5niner 3y ago
    Thanks! One new thing I learned after multiple iterations of: "That's great, but can you change this, or that". Once I was happy with the result, I asked it to produce the AI prompt that I could give next time to generate the same output, and that's what I put in my previous comment.
decodingchris 3y ago
Thanks for sharing your hack! I made a chrome extension for myself and others that want to try it out. Would love your thoughts! https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/blink-effortless-focus/lhmfkleedadlmbjnhjpklndkhlkahkgp https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/blink-effortless-fo...
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Looks cool!

atcalan 3y ago

Sounds like a time timer. The ventromedial pfc is the culprit here. Time blindness.

TheRealHB 3y ago
It's like a maestro, guiding you down with light not sound or words. So, yes. Done at PFC level probably ; )

gregsadetsky 3y ago

Fascinating! A few questions: - once the LED has slowed down to 60 bpm, do you keep it at that tempo for the rest of the day? for a few hours? do you ever go back to 120 bpm and then go back down? - generally speaking, how did you come up with the idea? - do you think that a software version (i.e. some blinking pixels in the top right corner of a monitor) would work, or is the intensity of the LED (i.e. the fact that it's not part of the monitor) part of the reason why it works? - could you also talk about the heart-rate sensor - how do you use it / how does it affect the bpm algorithm? Thanks!

TheRealHB 3y ago
Sure, Here is what I did to my current v.3+ - Once it reaches the lowest rate, the LED goes off after a 30min timer set, it fades the light over that time under the same blinking rate. So I won't notice. - The Idea comes from desperation really, mostly curiosity on why sound beats from upbeat music had a effect to improve mood, i.e. work more at gym. Also the idea that your brain will take patterns and try to synch with. Check PubMed (few articles about) - I started with a software version (v.1 and v2) and then a hardware one. No idea why, but hardware (as a side device) works really good. I 3D printed a tiny case and it is discreetly below my iMac screen powered by the USB. Look like an old modem but tiny. Finally... - I added the heart monitor (a cheap cable and wrist sensor) to see if I could shorten the time to achieve the lowest rate of blink based on my heart response instead of waiting the time or trying to read brainwave pattern (I try measuring voltage and electric wave form, from a headband I bought and returned after a rapid test) but the signal would mix with the work in front of me, so useless and expensive. Using heart rate looks cheap, non-intrusive and effective to shorten the time, it goes 1/3 of time to get lowest, could use an apple watch vs cable and sensor but I'm cheap. ; )
- gregsadetsky 3y ago
  Thanks, super interesting! There was research some time ago (jeez, 10 years ago...) [0] [1] that used video and... computer vision algorithms to detect a person's heart rate without any devices. Wondering if it could be used here i.e. use your webcam instead of an external hardware sensor? Other thing - would you be open to publishing/sharing your algorithm / esp32 code (on Github or as a blog article)? [0] https://news.mit.edu/2012/amplifying-invisible-video-0622 https://news.mit.edu/2012/amplifying-invisible-video-0622 [1] https://people.csail.mit.edu/mrub/vidmag/ https://people.csail.mit.edu/mrub/vidmag/
  - TheRealHB 3y ago
    We use this approach of video heartbeat detection on a real product (recruiting tool) but not for my hack ADHD device, You can't really do video detection it in real time and properly, without overheating the cheap device. On the SaaS we did we use a recorded segment of video so we can analyse it afterwards, check the colour changes in the face of the subject and try estimate heartbeat with loose accuracy. More like high, Normal, Low after taking a few seconds as base. The idea of the ADHD device was just a cheap hack done in a day for myself. Not a product or commercial as I don't feel claiming it can do to others what I looks like does to me. Happy to share here FREE ; )

cmplxconjugate 3y ago

This should be a product.

TheRealHB 3y ago
Thanks for the complement, I guess you would be a client (few comments) I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. Not my view for this one as it is a personal issue. I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like it does for me. Also I'm not basing it on anything scientific other than raw experimental data from 1. I'm happy to share it here and FREE for everyone. I run a tiny tiny tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )

voisin 3y ago

Have you considered building this as a product and selling it? I could see this with a kickstarter or even Shark Tank!

TheRealHB 3y ago
Hi thanks for complement, I guess you would be a client ; ) No, I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. For this personal issue, I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like what it does for me. Also I'm not based on anything other than experimental data. I'm happy to share it here and FREE. I run a tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )

zubairq 3y ago

Great idea, where can I buy one?

TheRealHB 3y ago
Explained before under another comment ; ) ... Thanks for the complement, I guess you would be a client (few comments) I have hundreds of things I do and very few go to product or build phase. Not my view for this one as it is a personal issue. I would not be comfortable claiming it could do anything for others like it does for me. Also I'm not basing it on anything scientific other than raw experimental data from 1. I'm happy to share it here and FREE for everyone. I run a tiny tiny tech incubator in the UK, so hands full : )

nonethewiser 3y ago

Seems likely to be a placebo. You have a vested interest in it working, admit its not based on any sort of science, and one of the setup steps is to overcome distraction (which is the problem that’s trying to be solved).

disgruntledphd2 3y ago
> Seems likely to be a placebo. You have a vested interest in it working, admit its not based on any sort of science, and one of the setup steps is to overcome distraction (which is the problem that’s trying to be solved). Fundamentally, if it works for the OP, who the hell cares? And how would you even double-blind test this anyway?
- autoexec 3y ago
  > And how would you even double-blind test this anyway? Get lights that either start fast and slow down or blink at speeds that randomly change then use serial numbers to track which lights are which, but send them out at random to test subjects?
  - disgruntledphd2 3y ago
    Which treatment you're in is relatively easily detectable, so unfortunately that wouldn't work. I like the approach though, it would be a reasonable control condition (assuming that the 60bpm is a core part of the effect).
    - mattnewton 3y ago
      you would blind the participants to the effect you are looking to measure. If they don’t know what to expect or what conditions there are, they can still get a placebo effect from random patterns.
      - disgruntledphd2 3y ago
        > you would blind the participants to the effect you are looking to measure. If they don’t know what to expect or what conditions there are, they can still get a placebo effect from random patterns. Maybe. Generally you'd do a manipulation check at the end to ensure that people couldn't identify what condition they were in. Additionally, that's single blind rather than double blind.

maskil 3y ago

"Make the slope approx 20-60 minutes", to be clear does this mean it should take that period of time to gradually go from 120 to 20-60?

TheRealHB 3y ago
Yes, I started with a 1 hour slope... from 150 to 60 over that time. Also it is not really a blink but a quick fade in/out effect not a flash.

herculity275 3y ago

Do you have a script you could share?

TheRealHB 3y ago
Just use any blinking LED template code that your OEM offers for your particular board (ESP32 or alike) as it will be specific for the PIN the LED is wired and libraries available, etc. Basically a function slope with a value from 150 to 60 that calls "blinks" over an hour, when at the end it turns off LED. You can make it smoother, add the heartbeat sensor, make it pulse instead of blink, that stuff will be particular to whatever you have at hand. GPT for such simple code after explaining the device and pointing to documentation should be a 3-4 shot process. My one is horribly inefficient and shameful to share : )
- chipsrafferty 3y ago
  What if I don't know what any of that means? I only know how to code, never used a "board" but I want to try this
  - TheRealHB 3y ago
    I see, well in that case just search for ESP32 on Amazon and get one for a $5, then look for a few videos on Youtube who to program for a ESP32 board and you will probably learn as a first example something to control the board's LED. From that you will be half way, just modify and try things out ; )
tsegers 3y ago
Here's what I cobbled together for Arduino [1]. It ain't pretty, but it's short and it works. [1] https://paste.sr.ht/~tsegers/53adaecd734e7159352f152ac1dcc855ee122d93 https://paste.sr.ht/~tsegers/53adaecd734e7159352f152ac1dcc85...
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Looking good for a test run indeed!

flir 3y ago

Intriguing. Wonder if sound would work also.

imposter 3y ago
I used to hear to Hucci alot back in the day because most of his songs would hover around 60-70 BPM, I'd gather it was having a similar effect.
- flir 3y ago
  I use Erik Satie a lot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyhBJzuixM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pyhBJzuixM). Also ASMR videos of mechanical keyboards (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5blZL1P4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5blZL1P4). Wonder what a light with some randomness would do. You could hook up some physiological monitors and try all kinds of light patterns.
ethanbond 3y ago
Try Endel! Works great for this type of stuff IMO.
- flir 3y ago
  Does seem good. I laid it on top of some typing sounds, and it's a bit elevator muzak but that might be why it works.
FrankyHollywood 3y ago
Nice idea, but sound distracts me very much, I just wanted to suggest a package deal: blinking led with a pair of noise canceling earbuds :)
TheRealHB 3y ago
It does, but the blinking was better in my case. I used to do beats high to low, instrumental music basically. ; )
shambulatron 3y ago

arsome 3y ago

You could probably just implement this in software on a side monitor even...

TheRealHB 3y ago
I explained above on another question, did started as Software (v.1 and v.2) but I guess my brain tried to ignore and sabotage the work on the screen, so I placed as a tiny device underneath (gotcha F brains!). Like tricking the brain to see as not part of the work. ; )

koonsolo 3y ago

> Get to work regardless if distracted and agitated. Close all apps except what you need to work and BOOM!, let the magic happen Isn't this the part that actually does the heavy lifting to get stuff done?

simplyluke 3y ago
Most productivity hacks are window dressing around this.
- koonsolo 3y ago
  Yeah, but this blinking light is still at another level. I'm glad it works for the OP, but to me this really stood out as pretty absurd. Sounds a bit like: I have a hard time falling asleep, so I have this blinking light next to my bed. I take a sleeping pill and let the magic happen. My heart rate then syncs to the light and I fall asleep. This light works great!
TheRealHB 3y ago
No really what I was trying to say but get your point. The idea is that you sit at your desk even if too agitated and remove the visual distractions that aren't work so your eyes will either look at work or the blinking led. I have an iPad by the side so I can't see the screen but will open from time to time to check emails. So, stare at the screen even if you don't feel like it and try 1o-15min.... if you forget and realised an hour passed and the blink stoped it... then it worked! ; )
ChrisRR 3y ago
This part seems like "draw the rest of the fucking owl"

ark4579 3y ago

oh sh*t. here we go again. another IoT that I would love to start and then abandon for some reason knowing full well how fix it but not find the "time" to do it.

TheRealHB 3y ago
I Did't get this one... It is not broken, it works, I just don't feel it should be a commercial product as I'm not comfortable in claiming it can do what it does for me. Happy to share FREE here, ; )
ChrisRR 3y ago
IOT? It's a blinking LED, pretty much always the first thing you learn in embedded. No need for internet, just an LED and a microcontroller.

makeworld 3y ago

Reminds me of this: https://jacobshapiro.substack.com/p/teaching-at-the-brains-tempo https://jacobshapiro.substack.com/p/teaching-at-the-brains-t...

lelanthran 3y ago
What would be really useful is a follow-up study that used GPs LED optical trick to influence the brainwave frequency. IOW, set the frequency to a known external stimulus, and see if the effect still holds.
TheRealHB 3y ago
Interesting stuff indeed!

sonicanatidae 3y ago

OMG. I could not do this. I hope it's useful to others, but not for me...at all. The biggest distraction for me, when working/focusing, is movement at the edge of my vision. You know, like most websites with their moving ads, or fly-out videos that no one asked for, etc. I'm glad you found your silverbullet, but that specific approach would wreck my productivity.

TheRealHB 3y ago
I don't recommend my solution BUT Your description is close to what I experience at times, that blinking thing may help you ignore outside the monitor distractions as it is there forcing you to ignore? Interesting, Do one and tell me ; ) I cost me $25 or less.... all spares ESP32 (most of them has a LED pinned anyways) and don't bother the heart monitor initially, just set time and rate of descent for the blink. Cheap test...
- sonicanatidae 3y ago
  I'm fortunate in that I can control my office enough that I can simply eliminate the distractions. For the rest, there's pihole, Brave and Ublock. ;) I may try this, as an experiment, but going into it, I'm expecting a fail. If I do try it, I'll follow up.
  - TheRealHB 3y ago
    You can't lose as even if it does not work much for you, you will get the building pleasure for sure.
    - sonicanatidae 3y ago
      Agreed and part of why I'm a career long SysAdmin is I like to tinker. :)
ChrisRR 3y ago
Same. I can't stand people hovering around my desk. Every little thing they do or say distracts me.

jblezo 3y ago

Nice tip. Thanks for sharing. I'll probably try this by making a cheap one with one of my kids' microbits. This seems like the perfect board for doing this.

TheRealHB 3y ago
Its a simple project and yes, microbit will be fine! Good luck!

scns 3y ago

I like Binaural Beats for this, plenty of Apps on offer. Started out with this one and hacked a bit on it, never published my version though: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.binauralbeats/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.binauralbeat... Now i'm pretty content with this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.rbxproject https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.rb... And this tune, it now is on my phone and every PC thanks to NewPipe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WNB9JN_2o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WNB9JN_2o

TheRealHB 3y ago
Yes, it could be the placebo effect, but placebo works wonders ; ) I detailed better aspects on a question above, Mostly when I added the heart monitor, somehow I can measure that the time to lowest blink got shorter and I'm not paying attention to the device at all. When I realise it us OFF I can see the logs and see how long it take vs the heartbeat to sync. Also, I build myself so I like there was no marketing or product to trust, just test and adjust.

JaDogg 3y ago

Oh no, now this is going to distract me until I built such blinking LED :(

TheRealHB 3y ago
Nice one! Be distracted! VERY distracted indeed.... then try it out to calm you down! Loop

swah 3y ago

Found an use to my m5stick C+ , will try this

TheRealHB 3y ago
Great little device, and you don't need to 3D print a case : )

timsayshey 3y ago

Inspired by this post I threw together a new open source desktop app that has an annoying always on top window that has a flashing timer, this seems to accomplish the same thing. https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock

smithcoin 3y ago
How were you able to manage the window always being on top? I thought you had to disable SIP for that on MacOS.
- timsayshey 3y ago
  In Electron it's super easy. Just set alwaysOnTop to true: https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock/blob/main/src/background.js#L9 https://github.com/timsayshey/cringe-clock/blob/main/src/bac...
TheRealHB 3y ago
That's cool! I get stressed just looking at it ; ) Jokes aside, whatever works... For me a side device with a pulsating red light with a heart sync for the lope do the gig! Deadlines comes free. Nice one!

kristianp 3y ago

Why does the rate have to start high and slow down?

TheRealHB 3y ago
In principle yes, Anything you get aware that goes fast-to-slow in a smooth gradient is the idea. I tried sound (beats) on a headphone with some tracks, then build a tiny app to show pixels on the screen (blink) and then settled on a LED on a prototyping board type of device (ESP32) as a quick project and that worked. I only improved by adding the heart sensor months later, now I don't think about it much, Now even If I'm not aware of, every time I turn the iMac it powers the device via the USB and so it starts anyway at 150bpm when the heart sensor is not responding or not detecting anything. After an hour it gets to 60 and the light fades out.... I'm not aware when it goes off, so I guess it is working ; ) Few people here posted code, ideas and I added the device pic I used (similar) and the sensors... you can buil one with almost anything and try! Good luck!

28304283409234 3y ago

Would some blinking pixels in a corner of the screen not also work?

darkclouds 3y ago

[dead]

kamaal 3y ago

Do you have pictures of the set up? Do share for the benefit of the masses.

TheRealHB 3y ago
Sure, May do a pic later when back home, meanwhile... I used this ESP32 board, it has RGB LED right in the middle, here is a web picture of one: https://dfimg.dfrobot.com/nobody/wiki/8a1de42ec21a99f36f69da0ca42db5e9.png https://dfimg.dfrobot.com/nobody/wiki/8a1de42ec21a99f36f69da... Its a Fire Beetle ESP32 E V.1.0, I bought cheap <$15 don't remember when or from who anymore... The heart monitor is from a study kit (Chinese brand) My whole set is similar (not the same, not my picture) to this: https://pic-microcontroller.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Building-a-MicroPython-heart-rate-monitor-Finding-the-beat-in-HR-sensor-data.jpg https://pic-microcontroller.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/B... Enjoy ! ; )

monkeydreams 3y ago

My daughter suffers from functional seizures due to FND and we do something similar with counting. When she is suffering from a complex motor tic we will ask her to count at a "comfortable speed" - which is always 100+ counts per minute. She will then slow down the counting until we reach 60 counts per minute at which point she has usually transitioned to a less intrusive tic or she has ceased ticcing altogether. > I just hammered a solution like any Ape with the shakes would need! This is an underrated approach. Following hunches and suspicions often leads to solutions that a pure evidence-based approach might miss or delay; especially if your suspicion goes against the prevaling wisdom.

TheRealHB 3y ago
Really interesting to learn about your solution for you daughter, great to see it works and appreciated the comment of my approach being an underrated one. My case isn't anything as relevant as yours and maybe that's why I did not much of research, easy going for a crude trial.

OneOffAsk 3y ago

I just listened to a podcast, Huberman, that discussed how to improve your ability to task switch. Apparently, there’s some connection to how your mind perceives time. He mentioned an exercise to improve your ability to task switch that manipulates how your mind perceives time, switching back-and-forth between slowing it down and speeding it up. I think the inability to task switch is a big part of ADHD and this thing you’re describing really sounds similar to what Huberman was discussing. Now, I’m not a doctor and I have no idea what I’m talking about here. Every time I start talking about this stuff I imagine my doctor friend sitting in the corner of the room shaking his head (maybe some of you saying it’s placebo should do the same).

ChrisRR 3y ago

I don't get this at all. What does the little flashing light achieve? I find minor irritations like this very distracting so I'm not really sure what the theory is

TheRealHB 3y ago
My guess is that may be working more like a simple "maestro" telling your brain orchestra and heart drummer to reduce the speed from Heavy metal to Ballad and that somehow makes easy to focus in what's in front of you? I make no claims here, I did it for me and looks like it works, not scientifically based or proven, not even tested on more than 1. So, no idea if can or will work for you ; ) That said, I'm now curious with so many comments to see how it will perform for those building versions to test. Its a 20min project, free for those already with prototyping board around. The key for me was to remove to my marginal angle of vision, not on the screen (like an app), the moment I moved outside and wasn't in front of it it work best. If you see it directly it does distract you indeed.

BaculumMeumEst 3y ago

i coded up an entire program to blink according to what you described before i it occurred to me my screen only runs at 60hz lol

anticrymactic 3y ago
Thankfully, heartrates are only in the single digit frequencies, so that shouldn't be a problem. 60 BPM = 1 Hz
- BaculumMeumEst 3y ago
  thank you for the correction. i blame one or all of fever delirium, lack of coffee, and allergy to math for this mistake. thank god i'm using a shitposting account.
TheRealHB 3y ago
; )

gcatalfamo 3y ago

Fascinating, but I have photo-sensitivity and continuous blinking would give me an headache. But I used to reproduce a similar behaviour with music (repetitive)

TheRealHB 3y ago
I didn't like the blinking at first, so I made it pulse instead (smoother) but was never to the point of headaches. that said, sound should work if you can keep a headset ; )

dofdial 3y ago

great. i am trying this now with a chrome-shortcut, window size 50x50, stay on top, js with blinking background on the bottom rigth corner of the screen. If it helps, i will use a esp32. thanks.

TheRealHB 3y ago
Nice, Let me know how if works for you, for me only the hardware (led outside the screen perimeter) works best.

maliker 3y ago

ChatGPT coded up a simple python script to do this for me if anyone would like to test it out. Here's the script: https://gist.github.com/dpinney/a3c0b1f333ef89748fa12d057a553193 https://gist.github.com/dpinney/a3c0b1f333ef89748fa12d057a55...

loamaa 3y ago
Thanks for this initial go at the blinking LED script! I went ahead and tried to add some quality-of-life features to this that I wanted. I've never used pyqt before, so I admit I had help from google and copilot figuring out methods. Anyways, here is an updated version that has a few more configurations for background color, circle color, slowdown period, graceful window resizing, and graceful shutdown. https://gist.github.com/rzwiefel/4527d40de25a7fd5a723016fbd416834 https://gist.github.com/rzwiefel/4527d40de25a7fd5a723016fbd4...
- TheRealHB 3y ago
  Looks good! Try doing one on a physical device too... My settings are just related to fade after reaching target or turn off immediately, Led colour (my ESP32 has a RGB onboard) and blink or pulse. Then there is a Start & Stop rate (150-60) as standard and IF sensor is connected or has data (heart) those values adjust too. Nice one!

atlas_hugged 3y ago

Bruh, I think you’re onto something here. Definitely going to try this. Thanks a mil

TheRealHB 3y ago
Hope it works for you too ; ) Try without a heart monitor first (cheap and easy to build) then improve as you see fit!

floydax 3y ago

This got me so intrigued that I built https://github.com/vlameiras/tranquiled https://github.com/vlameiras/tranquiled in order to have similar behaviour but in the screen itself. Nothing fancy, just curious to try it out!

TheRealHB 3y ago
Nice one! I will be curious to learn if that works for others too. In my case v.1 and 2 were apps with a similar on screen red dot like yours. Much smaller and first placed at the status-bar (like the cock ":" blinking) then floating on screen lower left corner. Things got interesting and worked best for me after I remove the light from the actual screen I must look at to work. Hence the device use, and then later the heart sensor. The key (I guess) is to make you brain see it but not you (if that makes sense?). Something like you looking at your screen but can still see if an Ant moves nearby or your phone shows a notification. Near your screen but not on it ; ) In any case, great little test, and eager for any feedback you can get.

loco5niner 3y ago

ChatGPT got me a similar HTML based solution with this prompt (F11 for full scren): Create a simple web page with a red blinking LED in the top-left corner. The LED should start blinking at 150 BPM and gradually slow down to 60 BPM. The initial size of the LED should be 40px, and it should completely disappear during the "off" phase. Additionally, include a red box shadow during the "on" phase of the blink. Please use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the implementation. Adjust the code as needed for clarity and readability.

TheRealHB 3y ago
These days with GPT and the lot there is really no reason not to try stuff. Nice one!
- loco5niner 3y ago
  Thanks! One new thing I learned after multiple iterations of: "That's great, but can you change this, or that". Once I was happy with the result, I asked it to produce the AI prompt that I could give next time to generate the same output, and that's what I put in my previous comment.

decodingchris 3y ago

Thanks for sharing your hack! I made a chrome extension for myself and others that want to try it out. Would love your thoughts! https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/blink-effortless-focus/lhmfkleedadlmbjnhjpklndkhlkahkgp https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/blink-effortless-fo...

TheRealHB 3y ago
Looks cool!