Six Sleep Gadgets, From Creepy to Cool
Black Friday is nearly here, and people across the country are about to shop themselves into a turkey-and-pie-fueled stupor. If you've got an insomniac on your gift list, why not give them something that will help them sleep? Here's a list of sleep gadgets that range from space-age cool to borderline creepy. (Remember, gadgets are never a subsitute for healthy sleep habits, no matter how techy and cool they may be!)
Even techies need their sleep. This high-tech digital sleep-tracking device is worn like a watch and monitors your sleep cycles. When you program it with your desired wake-up time, it can even wake you at the end of a sleep cycle (as opposed to in the middle, which may leave you feeling groggy) so you feel refreshed and rested. Try getting your kids to do that!
According to new research, hotheads may have trouble sleeping: This study shows that cool brains sleep better, and that cooling the brain is a natural way to boost sleep. So this cooling gel insert that slips into your pillow might be a good bet, especially in hot climates.
I’ve written pages about how light helps regulate our biorythyms. A dawn lamp, like this one, can take advantage of the power of light to help you wake up and fall asleep—if you’ve got some spare cash to spend (most run between $85 and $120).
According to doctors, auditory cues—or sounds—can be powerful aids to relaxation and sleep. So many high-tech insomniacs are turning to Pzizz, a set of sleep-promoting soundtracks, to cue the sandman. Thanks to its multiple formats, you’re never far from your sleep sounds: Pzizz is available in Mp3, iPhone and Android apps, and as computer software.
Have trouble finding your get-up-and-go in the morning? This alarm clock has plenty to spare—it actually leaps off your nightstand and rolls around on the floor while playing music. If that doesn’t get you out of bed, nothing will.
Jukusui-Kun Robotic Bear Pillow
Snoring may seem harmless, but it’s a serious health threat: Snoring and sleep apnea put your at risk for a slew of health ills ranging from metabolic syndrome to stroke. at 19th International Robot Show, Tokyo’s Waseda University recently unveiled a brand-new sleep gadget: a robotic teddy bear that whacks you when you snore. The bear monitors decibel levels “raises a paw to tickle the face” when snoring gets too loud. It’s better than being socked in the arm by an irritated spouse, I suppose. But somehow, the combination of "robotic" and "pillow" in the product title doesn't sound relaxing to me. Creepy or cool? You decide!
Do any of these gadgets appeal to you? Do you know of any other high-tech or low-tech sleep gadgets, and do they work for you or someone in your home? Let me know!
4 Comments
