Several companies, and their related new wearable device concepts, have finished fund raising using the Kickstarter platform, with these devices being split into two major categories: devices that can help users sleep - such as NeuroOn, Aurora and Sense; and devices that can alert users to fatigue - such as Spark and Vigo. Digitimes Research believes these wearable devices will gradually replace existing bulky and expensive sleep-based medical devices and trigger more sleep-related application ideas in the future.
Throughout July 2014 Kickstarter featured several new sleep-related wearable devices, most of which were able to meet or surpass their funding requirements on Kickstarter. The devices promoted DIY services and user-friendly functions for monitoring sleep patterns, and have overall attracted no shortage of consumer interest, indicating that demand for such products is high in places such as North America. Amid such developments, US-based National Sleep Foundation and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) have now solidified new standards and protocol for such sleep-related products to follow.
In terms of devices shaping these trends that can help users sleep, NeuroOn is equipped with the most advanced features, including brain wave and muscle tension measurements with an overall emphasis on Polyphasic Sleep, while Sense is more price competitive and geared toward activity tracker functionality and environment monitoring. Aurora's focus meanwhile is on Lucid Dreams and how humans can further their understanding with them.
There are also fatigue measurement devices such as Spark, which is meant to detect the body dozing off and send alarms to wake the person. Vigo also is equipped with similar features and also recommends users when they should rest.
Given the wide range of products now available to users and that many industry experts estimate 1/5 of people suffer from sleep problems, such devices are expected to continue growing in markets across the globe and will also spur demand for new wearable devices related to health as well as sleep improvement and health monitoring in the future, Digitimes Research believes.
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