As more people struggle with sleep, companies are creating wearable devices to mimic physiological reactions to tackle problems such as lack of sleep and high levels of stress.
Whether it is on your wrist, head or neck, most devices use vibrations and energy focused on helping with sleep, relaxation and well-being.
According to a report by Research and Markets published earlier this year, the global wearable technology market is estimated to reach US$19.1 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 14.3 per cent.
Here are three wearable devices that companies are selling to promote health benefits such as improved sleep, reduced stress, and overall, improvement of your life.
1. Apollo Neuro by Apollo Neuroscience Inc.
Apollo is a wellness wearable that improves your body’s resilience to stress, so you can relax, sleep, focus, recover, and feel better. Photo via Apollo
Pittsburgh-based startup Apollo Neuroscience Inc. created a wearable that improves the body’s resilience and response to stress. The aim of the wearable is to make a person sleep, relax, focus, recover and generally, feel better.
The device can be worn on the wrist or ankle and it works by delivering vibrations that train the nervous system to recover from stress more quickly. According to the company, the wearable turns the physiological fight-or-flight reaction into a restful one.
The wearable has been tested in multiple studies and clinical trials and is proven to improve heart rate variability (HRV), which is a key biometric of stress resilience.
In one of the studies, it was found that on average users of the device reported 40 per cent less stress and feelings of anxiety. Participants also reported 30 more minutes of sleep, 50 per cent more energy and up to 25 more focus and concentration.
“Apollo Neuro’s touch technology represents an entirely new way to think about wearables,” CEO Kathryn Fantauzzi said.
“Rather than tracking, Apollo Neuro’s gentle vibrations let us take control over how we feel so that we can focus, relax, get deep restorative sleep, or socialize,” Fantauzzi explained.
This month, the company raised $15 million in Series A funding at a valuation of over $100 million.
“Now, with our Series A closed, we’re geared up and ready to deliver new ways to experience Apollo Neuro. I’m excited to show what’s possible when you tap into the sense of touch to enable us all to choose how we feel and experience the world around us.”
2. Hapbee neckband by Hapbee Technologies, Inc.
The Hapbee AC100 is a neckband that generates the low frequencies according to the desired app settings which can include happy, alert, focused, relax, calm and deep sleep. Image via Hapbee
Montreal-based Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) (FSE: HA1) released a neckband that uses its patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE) “biostreaming” platform that delivers low-power electromagnetic signals that helps with sleep as well as productivity, recovery and relaxing at downtime.
According to the company, really low frequencies between 3-300 kilohertz and low-intensity magnetic fields have reported effects on biological systems as the magnetic fields can interact with small components in the cell.
The Hapbee AC100 is a neckband that generates the low frequencies according to the desired app settings which can include happy, alert, focused, relax, calm and deep sleep.
By the end of the first quarter of this year, Hapbee had nearly 3,000 active subscribers on the platform, which is an increase of 246 per cent year-over-year. Paid subscriber retention after six months increased from 22 per cent in September 2021 to 65 per cent in March 2022.
The increase was driven by significant improvements to the app and investment in an automated back-end billing system.
The monthly subscription fee ranges from US$12-$19 and the company also sells other sleep-aid devices such as the Sleepbee Bed Topper and the Sleepbee Sleep Mask.
Read more: Five-month Hapbee study shows products enhance sleep and recovery
Read more: The Mugglehead technology roundup: sleep technologies
3. Somnee by StimScience
Somnee, a headband that with just a 15-minute stim session at bedtime is enough to improve your whole night. Photo via Somnee
The California-based startup StimScience is taking pre-orders for its Somnee headband which -after testing- is said to reduce the time to fall asleep in half, increase sleep duration by over 30 minutes and reduce overnight turning around by a third.
With funding from Khosla Ventures, the device is supposed to cut the time to fall asleep by half, increase sleep duration by 30 minutes and reduce an individual’s nightly rate of restless rolling or tossing and turning by a third.
“You’ll wake up feeling relaxed and recharged, with no hangover effect.”
StimScience says that a 15-minute stim session at bedtime is enough to improve your whole night. Somnee personalizes each stim session based on individual sleep patterns and at the end of the stim session the device can be taken off or left to track a person’s sleep patterns.
The company says that using the device produces a tingling sensation during the stim session and some users will see light pulses during some parts.
In order to learn about the benefits, StimScience researchers conducted a sleep study with 167 adult participants over three years where it screened out participants with non-insomnia sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome and those taking sleeping pills or anti-depressants.
The sleep sessions tested were a mix of morning and afternoon nap sessions and overnight sessions where each participant had at least two sleep sessions, where one worked as a placebo control. Sleep activity was recorded using EEG and EKG systems and scored by a certified polysomnography technician.
