As we’ve written here before, many sleep technology devices are like a weather report; they tell you what happened, but they don’t give you much help in affecting what happens in the future. Fortunately, that’s changing.
Philips has created a line of SmartSleep products that are designed not just to help you track and understand your sleep, but to help you improve the quality of your sleep. One of the most interesting components is the SmartSleep Deep Sleep Headband. This device has built-in EEG sensors that detect the patterns of your brainwaves. When it detects the slow wave patterns of deep sleep, speakers over your ears play quiet audio tones that serve to boost the slow waves and keep you in deep sleep for a longer period of time.
The system is clinically proven to improve the quality of sleep and to improve cognitive function when awake. It provides an alternative to chemical solutions to increase the benefits of sleep. According to the company, it works best for people who tend to get less than seven hours of sleep a night due to their lifestyle. It is also intended for people aged 18 to 50. The system customizes the sounds to get the maximum effect for your individual sleep patterns.
At CES, I also learned that Philips partnered with Flex on the Deep Sleep Headband. Flex is a global company that helps partners develop products that can be mass produced efficiently. Their engineers can also help with design and execution of concepts. They worked with Philips improve the headband in a number of ways, including making it more comfortable to wear while sleeping.
While I’m a little disappointed that I have aged out of the target market for this product, I’m encouraged that sleep technology is evolving to the point where it can now take proactive measures to help people sleep better.
