Many bracelets and gadgets that are already available on the market are able to monitor our sleep. Put bracelets like UP (from Jawbone), tiny devices like One (from Fitbit) or even products developed especially for this task, like Aura (from Withings).
If you are interested in this type of monitoring but are not yet prepared to spend money buying products like this or simply do not like the idea of ​​wearing something to do this monitoring, it is worth taking a look at the application Sleep Better, recently launched by Runtastic (yes, the same developer as the famous runtastic PRO).
Sorry, app not found.
Track your sleep, monitor your dreams, improve your bedtime habits and wake up better with Sleep Better by Runtastic! Sleep Better offers you a simple and captivating way to improve your sleep quality, either because you struggle to fall asleep, want to learn how your daily activities influence your sleep efficiency, or simply because you want new alarm sounds to help you waking up feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy your day to the fullest!
Cool things the app offers: integration with Health (native to iOS 8), your sleep history (cycles and efficiency) and dreams, smart alarm (which wakes you up at the ideal time within the time range you set), possibility to include habits and daily variables (such as drinking coffee and / or alcohol, exercising and stress levels), helping to determine the effects of these variables on the quality of your sleep, monitoring the phases of the Moon, among other things.
Its operation is very simple. Just place it next to you on the bed that the monitoring done. Due to the long period that the app has to stay active capturing the information, it is recommended to leave the device recharging so you don't start the day on low battery.
This is an app freemium, in which you can do basic monitoring without paying anything for it; for slightly more advanced resources, I need to pay $ 2. You can use the app without necessarily creating an account (or by logging in with Facebook). On the other hand, by making an account, all information is kept in case you ever change devices, for example.
His interface is very pleasant and everything is very simple / intuitive. It is easy, for example, to make the initial adjustments to start monitoring before closing your eyes.
Runtastic explained that sleep monitoring is possible thanks to body movements. Tests carried out with different people and at various stages, aiming to further improve the tracking algorithm, confirmed that EEG (electroencephalography) assessments in a sleep laboratory correlate with the app's data. Sleep lab researchers corroborate that if an individual does not move within a certain period (approximately 15 minutes), it is safe to assume that he or she is in a deep sleep phase. Main deviations in the graph, on the other hand, indicate a mild phase.
I tested the app for a few nights and I am still a bit in doubt how much I need the information captured. Still, as I said, it is still a good test for those who are curious to know how their sleep is going.
(via 9to5Mac)
