Wireless Wednesday for 3/12/14: With Mitch Evans - Sleep Awareness Week
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 9:28PM
Rick and Mitch look at some sleep apps and gadgets as it is National Sleep Awareness Week
In 2011, the National Sleep Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to wake "America to the importance of sleep," conducted a study that found a strong correlation between poor sleeping habits and the use of technology before bed. Out of the nearly 1,600 people polled, 63% said they had trouble sleeping. Coincidentally, 95% of the participants said they surfed the net, watched TV, or texted on their phone before going sleep. Watching TV and checking Twitter before bed may indeed inhibit your rest—but we've managed to find some pieces of technology made to help you get a great night's sleep.
Have a listen
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1. Rise Alarm App $2 iOS app
The Rise Alarm app is a gorgeous alarm clock that will help you get up during those groggy mornings when you absolutely have to use an alarm. It is designed to be easy: a simple swipe will turn off your alarm, one click and you can give yourself another five minutes of sleep.
Also, a variety of different alarms you can wake to.
2. Philips Wake Up Light $100
What's the most peaceful way to wake up? When the sunlight slowly peaks in through your curtains while it rises-not having an alarm startling you the first thing in the morning. The Philips Wake-Up Light is based on the concept of the sun rising: in the morning, the lamp's light increases its brightness to help you get out of bed, gently. It also has a clock radio to give you that extra push to get up.
3. Chillow $13 www.chillow.com
Get that cool side of the pillow with Chillow
The CHILLOW Cooling Pad continuously circulates water to absorb and release body heat. Once activated, the CHILLOW Cooling Pad allows you to customize your level of comfort from cool to coolest depending on your room temperature. Put in refrigerator to get to the temp you want
4. Four Seasons Hotels will allow you to pick your own beds for your stay
Guests at the Four Seasons can now customise their bed and pillows to accommodate their sleep preferences.
Instead of complaining their bed's too soft or too hard, guests can order their mattress the way they like at Four Seasons locations across the US, in much the same way they can order a steak cooked to their personal preference.
Launched to coincide with World Sleep Day on March 14, the new service at the luxury hotel chain will allow guests to choose from three different levels of mattress firmness: Signature; Signature firm; for sleepers who prefer more support; and Signature plush who prefer sinking into their beds.
Guests can also choose between feather and non-allergenic pillows.
The Four Seasons Bed programme was developed in partnership with bed manufacturer Simmons, which also added a temperature-control feature that goes by the fancy name of “Gel Touch Foam Center” technology, which is supposed to absorb excess heat and ensure maximum comfort throughout the night.
The service will roll out systemwide over the next few years. Beds are also available for purchase.
5. Jawbone Up! - improves sleep features
The Jawbone Up! has been one of my favorite fitness bands for years. Now it has improved the Jawbone Up app with additional sleep features.
UP 3.1 for iOS
Jawbone is also introducing the UP 3.1 app for iOS which now provides tailored insights around how sleep and activity affect one another, like every 30 minutes earlier you go to bed, you step 800 more steps per day.
App of the Week - Oscar Mayer iPhone app and dongle accessory
An app you have to win.... and it produces a bacon smell
Oscar Mayer and an app?
That is what I was thinking as well, but this idea isn't a bunch of bologna.
A limited number of people will win a new Oscar Mayer iPhone dongle that for one, serves as an alarm clock, but also produces the smell of bacon to wake up to in the morning.
I'm already getting hungry.
The contest is part of the newly released Wake Up & Smell the Bacon iPhone app. It's all pretty cool as the alarm clock app makes sizzling sounds that will remind you of bacon cooking.
It may sound a little weird, but this is a great idea. Who wouldn't want to wake up to the smell and sound of bacon? It's the perfect promotion for a new app.
Oscar Mayer says it will pick 4,700 winners from all the enter that will receive the bacon-smell iPhone dongle. This could also end up being a valuable collector's item.
You can apply for the contest, and I recommend you do by going to WakeUpAndSmelltheBacon.com. Entries are accepted until April 4, 2014.
Hey there, it's time to wake up and smell the bacon and enter this contest!
