Sleep is an important part of life. It happens every day and when we don't sleep or don't sleep well, we suffer. Not only that, but everyone's sleep habits are different, so it can be difficult to accurately track sleep and offer suggestions based on that.
Even sleep trackers such as the Fitbit or Jawbone really only track sleep instead of helping users sleep better. A company called Juvo Labs, however, aims to help users sleep better, having started an Indiegogo campaign for a device that may turn the whole bedroom into a sleep assistant.
To set the device up, users simply have to slip a fiber-optic pad under their mattress. The pad then connects to a square monitor that can sit on the bedside table or somewhere else nearby. The technology tracks sleep by monitoring bodily vibrations, and is even able to monitor things like heart rate and breathing patterns to detect whether the user is asleep or not.
Juvo is different than other sleep monitors for a number of reasons. First of all, it can integrate with other smart home devices. Secondly, not only will it monitor sleep, but it will also offer advice based on that sleep. It also includes a built-in white noise generator.
So what exactly does Juvo track? The device's SleepCoach component is aimed at being able to track the user's sleep patterns, meaning that it can locate where in the sleep cycle the user is in. It uses a number of sensors to do so, and apart from the mentioned heart-rate tracking and breathing tracking, it also tracks light, sound, and temperature. All of these things will go into the advice that the device gives. These recommendations are personal and include things like the temperature that users should set their thermostat at and exactly how much sleep they need to be getting based on their personal sleep patterns, when they are in light sleep to best set their alarm, and when they hit REM sleep and whether they might need a nap to catch up.
It might seem a little useless for Juvo to connect to other smart home devices, but it could really set the device apart. For example, once the device detects that the user is asleep, it could do things like tell the light bulbs to turn off and the door to lock. Then, as the user starts to wake up, the lights could slowly brighten.
Advice from the device could help users who suffer from things like sleep anxiety.
Those interested in Juvo can head to the Indiegogo page now, with the device itself starting at $139 and pledges ranging to $6,000 for a distributor pack. The campaign has earned $20,121 toward its $50,000 goal and has 39 days left.
Via: CNET
