PSI Science Lamp Geiger Circuit User Manual

Introduction to the PSI SCIENCE Lamp

Image of the PSI Science Lamp, a wooden-topped device with a translucent blue light-up section displaying symbols.

The PSI SCIENCE Lamp is a thought-provoking tool that allows the user to perform their own PSI experiments. The lab-quality Random Number Generator (RNG) inside the PSI SCIENCE Lamp provides the platform to test and verify current research findings in parapsychology journals and texts. It prompts the question: Does the human mind have the capability to influence the output of the RNG? Positive test results could confirm the mind's ability to influence machines and probability at the quantum level, a phenomenon shown to be statistically valid. The PSI SCIENCE Lamp also serves as a reliable ESP/PSI testing platform.

At its core, the RNG is a miniature Geiger counter. Its detection of radioactive particles triggers the generation of true random numbers. Each generated random number illuminates one of four different colored LEDs: red, green, blue, and yellow. While this setup might seem trivial, true random numbers are essential for accurately testing various aspects of PSI phenomena.

PSI SCIENCE Lamp Applications

PSI Testing Applications

• Test for Precognition: Precognition is the knowledge of something in advance of its occurrence, especially by extrasensory perception; also called clairvoyance.
• Test for Psychokinesis (PK): Psychokinesis is the movement or influence of physical objects by the mind without the use of physical means, also called PK.
• Test for Telepathy: Telepathy is the communication between minds by some means other than sensory perception.

Just For Fun Applications

• Fortune Telling - Ramblings of the Universe: Fortune telling is the act or practice of predicting the future.
• Mood Lamp: A lamp that changes color to depict the user's state of mind.
• Radioactive Fallout Detector: The slow descent of minute particles of radioactive debris in the atmosphere following a nuclear explosion will cause the PSI Science lamp to begin to change colors much faster than 2-3 color changes per minute.

History

Helmut Schmidt

In 1969, Helmut Schmidt, a physicist at the Boeing Company Laboratory, created a number of RNGs for mind-over-machine experiments. His work marked the beginning of electronic RNG and REG use. One experiment connected an RNG to four colored lights, similar to the PSI SCIENCE Lamp. His findings concluded that the human mind can influence RNG output to produce statistical deviations from chance.

The Amazing Kreskin

In 1975, The Amazing Kreskin offered an electronic ESP tester through Edmund Scientific. This tester used an RNG to light one of four different colored LEDs. In a test scenario, the user would predict which LED would light next, then use a switch for the RNG/REG to select a light randomly. The user tracked hits and misses to assess ESP/PSI potential.

Serious Science

It is easy to be cynical about the PSI SCIENCE lamp and minimize the significance of the experiments and technology it represents. However, other scientists employing rigorous methodology and authoring peer-reviewed materials have drawn conclusive results showing weak but definite ESP/PSI abilities of the human mind, based on statistical analysis of results obtained using REGs and RNGs.

For further research, the following terms are recommended for internet searches: Helmut Schmidt; Dean Radin (IONS); Global Consciousness Project; and PEAR. These searches will provide substantial information based on science to form a solid foundation for this research.

Dean Radin, PhD, is the Senior Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). He has written extensively on PSI phenomena and experiments, with his books "The Conscious Universe" and "Entangled Minds" being pivotal.

The Global Consciousness Project, initiated in 1998, posits that human consciousness can impact the output of Random Event Generators (REGs), making them slightly less random. If true, global events should measurably affect networks of global REGs.

PEAR is an acronym for Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research. This group, led by Robert G. Jahn, extensively researched mind-over-machine phenomena, demonstrating a positive, undeniable correlation between the mind and machine behavior. They have published numerous books detailing their research, including "Margins of Reality".

Generation of Random Numbers

To generate random events, the PSI Science lamp relies on the inherent randomness of background radioactivity. Quantum mechanics states that the nuclear decay of atoms is fundamentally random and unpredictable. The device contains a miniature Geiger counter that detects this background radiation.

The detection of a background radioactive particle serves as a random event trigger for the Random Number Generator because the exact moment of detection is impossible to predict with accuracy.

How Random Numbers are Generated from Background Radiation

Image: Diagram illustrating the generation of random numbers. It depicts a spinning carnival wheel with four colored segments (red, yellow, green, blue) numbered 1-4, and a pointer indicating the stopped number. An arrow points downwards towards the wheel.

The trigger mechanism for generating random numbers can be understood using a mechanical analogy: imagine numbers one through four painted on the edge of a revolving carnival wheel. A pointer at the top indicates the number. The wheel spins rapidly, thousands of revolutions per second. When a random radioactive particle is detected, the wheel instantly stops, and the number under the pointer is the generated random number. Once read, the wheel resumes spinning.

The microcontroller program closely mimics this mechanical analogy. It spins through the sequence of numbers (one through four) in a for-next loop. A random event instantly halts the loop, and the current number is read, displayed via LEDs, and sent out serially on the TTL port. The program then re-enters the for-next loop.

The PSI Science Lamp's RNG produces approximately one to three random numbers per minute from background radiation.

In cases where the RNG produces the same random number consecutively (e.g., 2 followed by 2), the LED associated with that number will momentarily blink off to signal the repetition. It is not uncommon for the same random number to be generated multiple times in sequence, which is a characteristic of a true RNG. Unlike human-generated lists, real random number tables often contain such runs.

Powering the PSI SCIENCE Lamp

Plug the 9V wall adapter into the power socket on the back of the lamp. The power switch is located on the far right.

Upon initial power-on, each colored LED inside the lamp will blink sequentially for half a second. This is the PSI SCIENCE Lamp's power-on test, confirming the microcontroller and LEDs are functioning correctly. After the self-test, all LEDs turn off until the first random number is generated.

As mentioned, the PSI Science lamp generates random numbers using a miniature Geiger counter. The Geiger counter sensor is situated just inside the front of the lamp's case, on the left side.

To determine which number corresponds to each LED color, observe the PSI SCIENCE lamp's self-test upon turning it on: Red = 1, Blue = 2, Green = 3, and Yellow = 4. For number ranges 1-2, the colors are Red = 1 and Blue = 2. For number ranges 1-128, refer to the color chart in the appendix.

PSI Testing and Use

Probability, Statistics and PSI

Scientists utilize probability and statistics to test for significant PSI phenomena. Running PSI tests with a large number of trials can make manual calculations tedious. Images SI Inc. offers a free online Probability Checker for ESP/PSI experiments. Visit their site at: http://www.imagesco.com/psi/probability.html.

Precognition

Testing for precognition is straightforward. Predict the next 60 colors the PSI SCIENCE Lamp will generate and record them on paper. Then, observe the lamp and mark your results against your predictions. The chance of guessing the correct color is one out of four (p=1/4), meaning chance alone would yield approximately fifteen correct hits out of sixty calls. However, any number of hits between 9 and 21 is not considered significant, as this range falls within two standard deviations from chance. Hits above or below this range are considered significant and indicative of ESP/PSI activity.

Psychokinesis (PK)

Use your mind to influence the output of the PSI SCIENCE lamp, aiming for results greater or lesser than chance. Choose a single color (or number) to intend. Try to make that specific color appear, and record the next sixty PSI SCIENCE Lamp colors while attempting to influence the outcome. Chance would yield approximately 15 hits. Results above or below the 9 to 21 range are statistically significant. It has been observed that groups of people all intending the same color or number achieve a higher success rate than individuals. This can be a fun game for parties.

Telepathy

This test involves two people in separate rooms: a sender and a receiver. The sender observes the PSI SCIENCE lamp and attempts to transmit the color changes as they occur to the receiver. A signal must be established between them. The sender indicates when the lamp changes color, and the receiver tries to perceive the color. Both parties log the colors for later comparison.

Fortune Telling—Ramblings of the Universe

In this application, the lamp functions like a sophisticated "magic 8-ball." Ask a question and await a reply, which is indicated by the next lit LED. You can assign your own meanings to the colors; for example, green for yes, red for no, yellow for unclear, and blue for asking again.

Mood Lamp

The unpredictable timing and color changes of the PSI SCIENCE lamp's LED output can be viewed as a sophisticated mood lamp, or as the "ramblings of the universe," or even as an example of divine communication where no one is listening.

Radioactive Fallout / Nuclear Bomb Detector

The ESP Lamp is sensitive to increases in radioactivity. If a piece of radioactive material, such as uranium ore, is brought near the lamp, the LEDs will begin changing colors rapidly. If your lamp starts changing colors rapidly for an extended period, it may indicate an increase in background radiation.

Image: Photograph of a woman holding up a card with three wavy lines, seated at a table with playing cards spread out. The caption reads 'Image of testing PSI with cards'.

Random Number Serial Output

The PSI SCIENCE lamp transmits random numbers from its serial port, located on the side of the lamp. Connect to the serial port using a 3.5 mm stereo jack.

Range Setting

The range of the PSI SCIENCE lamp can be set using the 3-position switch on the back of the unit. The center position is for the range 1-4. Moving the switch up selects the range 1-2; moving it down selects 1-128. The four colors function properly for ranges 1-4 and 1-128. For the 1-2 range, only two colors will light. A color chart is available in the appendix.

The range must be selected before powering on the unit. Changing the range while the unit is powered on will have no effect.

Image: Close-up view of the back panel of the PSI Science Lamp. It shows three connectors labeled 'POWER', 'SERIAL OUTPUT', and a 3-position switch labeled 'RANGE SELECTION' with settings '1-2', '1-4', and '1-128'.

The serial output can be read by a PC. The communication parameters are 9600 Baud, 8 bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1).

The serial output is designed to be compatible with an upcoming line of peripheral devices from Images SI Inc. that will utilize random numbers.

Hardware and Software for the PSI SCIENCE Lamp

Images SI Inc. now offers PC Windows software to read the output of the PSI SCIENCE Lamp's RNG.

Image: Screenshots of PC Windows software for the PSI Science Lamp. The first shows a 'Color screen' interface with options for Baud Rates, COM Ports, and Number range, displaying a speckled pattern. The second shows a 'Random walk' interface with similar settings and a graph of a random walk. The third shows a 'Ramblings of the Universe' interface with input text.

Check the Images SI Inc. website for more information on these and other programs: http://www.imagesco.com/psi/psi-science-lamp-geiger.html.

Additional Resources

The internet contains a wealth of information on PSI phenomena. Exercise caution, as many fringe groups and unsubstantiated theories exist online. It is recommended to stay close to real science when researching these topics. We recommend the following site: http://www.psychicscience.org/.

You can use the Images SI Inc. website's PSI calculations for testing your PSI ability with the PSI SCIENCE Lamp. Visit: http://www.imagesco.com/psi/probability.html.

Images SI Inc. welcomes suggestions and comments. Email them to: sales@imagesco.com.

Random Number Color Chart