Sleep is now a tech industry. What does it say about us that we’re so incapable of natural human patterns that we have to invent things to help us with that? Alright, let’s not overthink this.
Many people suffer from insomnia or other sleep deficiencies, so of course the tech world is stepping in to assist. A few of the options already available or soon to be available:
A “sleep robot” for you to cuddle up with in bed, like a pillow that breathes. That sounds creepier than it actually is. It just expands and contracts to help you establish a consistent, slow breathing pattern while playing soft sounds or music to help lull you into slumberland.
Noise-blocking ear buds by Bose to help when your upstairs neighbors are practicing for their marching band.
A band that goes across your chest that vibrates when you start snoring so that you change position. Sleep experts say that sleeping on your back is the biggest cause of snoring, so this gadget just gently prompts you to roll onto your side without your partner having to wake up and angrily shove you.
Special glasses that filter out blue light from screens, which makes sleep difficult. So that you can continue to watch Netflix or scroll through Instagram right up until it’s time to nod off. That’s right, we’re now inventing tech to counteract the harmful effects of tech. (And yes, I recognize the irony of writing that for an Internet article.)
There’s also an app that you set on the bed next to you that monitors your sleep, identifies problems, and suggests solutions. Just use your blue-light-filtering glasses while you set it up on your phone right before bed.
So if you suffer from sleep issues, keep an eye out for this tech. It could be a game-changer for a lot of people if effective.
