We love when technology and health come together. Here is an app review by Health Activist Karen Vasquez. –Amanda
Sleep Time App for iPhone by Azumio on my iPhone 4S
By Karen Vasquez
The short version of my review: I would keep it.
Sleep Time App for iPhone is designed to monitor a user’s sleep, then wake user at the right moment to minimize grogginess. So if a user sets the alarm for 7am, Sleep time will wake user during “light sleep” time before user’s alarm time. It also claims to help monitor sleep patterns and provides cumulative data of the user’s sleep cycle.
Technical Difficulties
I have not experienced technical difficulties with my battery life. I did encounter a problem because I had too many applications open on my phone at once. My iTunes would not play, but as soon as I closed the apps not currently in use, I have experienced no further problems. No texting, emailing, tweeting, etc… was interrupted after closing apps not currently in use.
Accuracy
Now, there is no way for me to test the accuracy of this app other than a costly sleep study, but I will say this: The app has encouraged me to follow a routine because I am keeping track of my sleep pattern data provided by app. I did find I feel less groggy if I sleep over seven hours instead of my usual five. The alarm did wake me at a time the data indicated I was in a light sleep cycle.
At first, I thought my phone detected movement and based its data on my movement through the night; but I sleep like a rock. I’m a back sleeper and I move very little. Now, I hypothesize it picks up heart rate because the phone is layed face down on the mattress in close proximity. I believe this because I woke in the middle of the night to use the rest room and the data showed my sleep became lighter 10 minutes before the time I opened my eyes. (I noted time and compared in the morning.)
Helpful to Behavior Modification
Here are three ways use of The Sleep Time app improved my “Sleep Hygiene” (Link to definition here: http://www.umm.edu/sleep/sleep_hyg.htm )
- I stopped bringing my laptop to bed. This usually lead to what started as checking email at 10pm to looking up at the clock and seeing 1am.
- No TV. Any doctor will tell you that watching TV increases chances of insomnia. The Soundscape feature forced me to keep my TV off. The rainforest storm just made me want to empty my bladder, but the Ocean Waves Soundscape was for me. Ask me in six weeks if I am completely weaned from watching TV in bed.
- Instead of checking my email first thing, I looked forward to seeing my sleep patterns. Again, I cannot be sure how accurate they are, but again, this is not a lab setting for monitoring sleep patterns.
This app is a good tool to change behavior. It rewards the user with cumulative data to help user improve sleeping habits. If one is looking for something to help change sleeping habits and improve a good night’s sleep; I would recommend this app. I’m keeping it.
Cheers























