Need a Silent Night? Doze Deep With These Dreamy Devices

One of the downsides to technological industriousness is, undoubtedly, the nonstop whirlwind of data that is quickly turning us into ADD-addled, multitasking, frazzled shells of people. We regularly check sports scores, while microwaving dinner, while listening to music, while talking on the phone, while watching television, while shopping online for a new pair of sneakers. And this 24/7 media onslaught can lead to some very poor sleep habits, particularly for those of us heavily engaged with all things digital. So what's a geek to do? Fight technology with technology. Here are six gadgets that will help get some more rapid eye movement into your life.

Zeo ($249 with one year of personal sleep coaching)

Perhaps the most well-known sleep aid on the market right now is Zeo. Combining a base station that sits on your nightstand with a sensor-enabled headband, Zeo monitors and tracks brain waves during the different stages of sleep. To help you keep track of sleep patterns, the Zeo gives you a "ZQ" score each morning, based on the quantity (and quality) of your sleep. All of this data is saved onto an SD card, which you plug into your computer and upload to the Zeo Web site. Over time, it's possible to get a good feel for how often you wake up, how restorative your sleep is, and so on. For an extra fee, Zeo also offers sleep "tech support" with a sleep specialist who can help you make better sense of your data, and recognize problematic pattens in your sleep schedule (e.g., staying up too late).


SleepTracker (Various models: $149 - $179)

Not unlike Zeo, SleepTracker works by monitoring your sleep. A working wristwatch, it's wired with a sensor that can tell whether you're asleep or awake. SleepTracker's big selling point is that it locates your "best waking moments." Just set your alarm to ring within a certain window of time (e.g., between 6:10 and 6:30 a.m), and it will sound when you're in the ideal sleep phase to be awakened (i.e., not during deep sleep). Though Zeo incorporates this feature as well, and somewhat more accurately tracks sleep patterns, not everyone wants to wear a strap around their head while they sleep, so the SleepTracker provides a less cumbersome alternative. It also comes with a special USB connection to transfer your sleep phase data to a PC (with a Mac version supposedly on the way), in case you're the type that likes to keep score at home.


LightSleeper ($200)

The LightSleeper takes a different approach to helping you get those essential Z's. There's nothing to wear, nothing to track, and not a whole lot to think about, which is the point. Essentially a small lamp that sits on your nightstand, the device projects circularly moving patterns of light onto the ceiling. You then follow those patterns with your eyes until you're gently lulled to sleep. The effect is not unlike reading a book, but while reading can get the adrenaline flowing, LightSleeper's soothing blue light offers pure hypnotic relaxation. It can be turned on with a simple tap, uses a rechargeable battery in case you need to switch rooms, and turns itself off after 30 minutes. The brightness and movement settings are adjustable to your taste, and the device's small size means plenty of room on the nightstand for the books and magazines you're currently reading.


Verilux TwiLight Ultra Blue Light Therapy System ($90)

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of feng shui knows that you shouldn't paint your bedroom walls red. That passionate color is the emotional end of the light spectrum, while cooler blues and greens are more suited to bedroom activities. (Well, most of them, you naughty rabbits.) The Verilux system operates on the assumption that blue light exposure has been shown to help recalibrate the body's Circadian rhythm. The TwiLight lamp produces 5,000 LUX of 460nm blue light therapy -- which, we're told, is a lot of blue. Turn this baby on for 30 to 60 minutes before crashing, says Verilux, and you'll improve both the duration and quality of your sleep. The device uses a 36-watt natural spectrum bulb, has two levels of brightness, and can also provide wonderful ambiance for your next Smurf-themed bedroom party.


Apple iPhone Apps (Various apps: $2 - $3)

Your iPhone may not be the most obvious sleep tool, but several currently available applications can help you to sleep easy, and plenty more are in the works. (Just don't forget to put the phone in Airplane mode before going to bed; e-mails do not help matters.) A host of applications provide various sleep tools, including white noise (Ambiance, aSleep), sleepy-time music (Pure Sleep), relaxation techniques (Deep Sleep With Andrew Johnson), and interactive sleep journals (Proactive Sleep). We can't believe there isn't an app that provides countable sheep, but it surely won't be long before this becomes a reality.

Tags: add, apple, features, hgg, iphone, lightsleeper, sleep, sleeping, sleeptracker, top, verilux twilight ultra blue light therapy system, VeriluxTwilightUltraBlueLightTherapySystem, zeo