sleeptracker watch review

When I first heard we’d be getting the Sleeptracker watch for review, I was excited for one reason: biphasic sleep.

Although my own biphasic efforts have been less than perfect (”Alcohol; the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems”) the Sleeptracker watch has proven a powerful tool for my quest.

The Sleeptracker monitors your sleep and attempts to wake you at an optimum time; reducing grogginess and easing the transition to wakefulness.

As you sleep, you go through 5 discreet cycles several times each night ranging from deep REM sleep (the period in which you dream) to very light, almost awake “Phase 1″ sleep.  When you wake up during this phase, you feel more alert and rested.

The Sleeptracker monitors your movement.  During deep sleep, the body is typically very still.  In earlier, lighter phases the body will shift and occasionally spasm.  This is what triggers the Sleeptracker’s alarm.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Sleeptracker is incredibly easy to use.  I was lucky to receive it after Greg because the time and date were already set.  Still, setting it up for my own sleep use was simple. 
First, set the alarm for the time you need to wake up.  Next, choose an ‘alarm window’.  This is a window of time (10, 20, 30 or 40 minutes) before the actual alarm time during which the Sleeptracker will try to find you in phase 1 sleep to wake you.

For simple applications (i.e. my own Biphasic sleep), that’s all you need.

The Sleeptracker also has the capability to compile data on your nightly slumber including average time between phases, etc.  I didn’t delve into this feature although it too was incredibly easy to set up. I will likely try this over the next week and update this post accordingly.

IN USE

I have to admit, I was confused the first few times I used the Sleeptracker.  I was setting it for 1.5 hours later (to get my first Biphasic sleep cycle in after work) and each time, the alarm was going off at the exact time I had set.  In other words, I wasn’t be awakened during Phase 1 sleep.  After adjusting the alarm window and doing more tests I figured out the problem; I needed to increase the timeframe of my 1st cycle sleep.  When I set the alarm for 2 hours later, with a 40 minute alarm window, it worked like a charm.  I was typically waking 20-30 minutes before the 2 hour mark, and definitely felt more rested than usual after my evening ‘nap’.

CONCLUSIONS

It works.  Innovative Sleep Solutions markets Sleeptracker towards

frequent travelers across time zones, business people looking for that extra edge, students with fluctuating schedules, or busy moms who need to wake up easily”.

I’d go further to say it should be considered by anyone who feels like throwing their alarm clock across the room each morning.

Sleeptracker Watch ($149)

Technorati Tags: new gadget review, technology, new technology, geek