Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created pyjamas that collect data on people who suffer from sleep disorders throughout the night. They claim their jammies can identify six different sleep states with nearly 99 per cent accuracy.
The sleepwear keeps tabs on conditions like snoring, obstructive sleep apnea and teeth grinding. It uses a series of sensors to monitor fluctuations in breathing and sends its insights to a user’s smartphone.
“This ultrasensitive strain sensor array, characterized by excellent robustness and durability, can collect subtle vibrations from the extrinsic laryngeal muscles associated with various sleep patterns,” the researchers specified in their study on the garment.
We at Mugglehead had heard of sleep tech rings, watches, masks, apps, headbands, mouth appliances, earbuds, coats and supplements before, but nothing like this had ever crossed our field of vision, until now. The researchers claim the pyjamas are superior to all these devices when it comes to monitoring sleep disorders.
“Wearable devices such as smartwatches, while more comfortable to wear, can only infer sleep quality, and are not effective for accurately monitoring disordered sleep,” they said.
A machine learning model called SleepNet assists with collecting and analyzing data from the nightwear. The scientists responsible for its creation are currently considering using the sensor system to help assess other health conditions.
“Since this garment can be used at home, rather than in a hospital or clinic, it can alert users to changes in their sleep that they can then discuss with their doctor,” the school’s professor, Professor Luigi Occhipinti, explained in a blog post.
Read more: Japan creates high-tech puffer jacket for catching Z’s on the move
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Not the world’s first intelligent pj’s
Despite being fairly novel, the University of Cambridge investigators aren’t the first to try this sort of thing out.
At the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show before the pandemic, a company based out of Tokyo Japan formally launched a line of smart nighttime clothing called the e-skin Sleep & Lounge collection.
These pyjamas, developed by Xenoma, monitor a sleeper’s breath, heart rate and vital signs to provide health insights as well.
In this case, the high-tech clothing is specifically tailored for senior citizens.
rowan@mugglehead.com
