One in three people aren’t getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So a cavalcade of products are aiming to address sleep issues—the global market for sleep aids is projected by BCC Research to reach $76.7 billion by 2019—and many of them are connected.
Here are some of the latest:
➊ Balluga
Cost: $1,629 for a twin mattress; up to $5,000 for a customized bed (balluga.com).
What it does: A smart bed ordered via the Indiegogo marketplace, it offers a customizable sleeping environment, including vibrating massage, climate control, and an antisnoring system that works by automatically elevating the snorer’s head. An active-suspension system monitors the bodies on the bed, adjusting pressure as people move so that each sleeper’s spine is properly supported.
Caveat: It’s unknown what percentage of snorers the Balluga’s head-raising tactic will actually work for.
➋ Juvo
Cost: $199 (juvolabs.com)
What it does: It turns an existing bed smart. Using a flat sensor mat, Juvo tracks your heart rate, movement, and breathing. It determines if sounds or light are disturbing sleep; the smart alarm chooses the lightest point in your sleep cycle to wake you up. It pairs with other smart home components so it can turn on smart lights or adjust a thermostat.
Caveat: Juvo combines features already available in sleep apps, paired with the connectivity to smart devices, so it may not seem necessary if you already are happy using sleep apps.
➌ Sense with Sleep Pill
Cost: $129 (hello.is)
What it does: It is a futuristic bedside orb, packing smart alarm and sound-machine functions, as well as sleep-monitoring capabilities, through a Sleep Pill unit (about the size of a quarter) that clips onto the pillow. It offers comforting soundtracks like a fireplace or white noise.
Caveat: It may be better for those interested in improving sleeping conditions than for its sleep-tracking technology.
➍ LumosTech Smart Sleep Mask
Cost: $199 (lumostech.co)
What it does: Billed as an anti-jet-lag sleep mask, it delivers personalized light therapy, including a dawn simulator to sync your body clock for your destination. Whether you’re an astronaut, a night-owl teen, or just new to the late shift, LumosTech claims its mask can tailor a sleep schedule to your need. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the mask also tracks the wearer’s sleep history and sleep quality.
Caveat: While flashing-light therapy technology is promising, it’s still being studied and no guarantees can be made to its effectiveness. The mask is due out in early 2017.
For more on sleep, watch this Coins2Day video:
A version of this article appears in the November 1, 2016 issue of Coins2Day with the headline “The Internet of Things…in Bed.”
