A nightshirt that measures sleep quality

sleepshirt_x220With telecare companies such as WellAWARE focusing on sleep quality issues via bed and activity sensors, and the Zeo system running direct response TV spots, another way of tracking sleep quality may be as close as a shirt. The Somnus Sleep Shirt designed by start-up Nyx Devices is embedded with thin fabric sensors which monitor breathing patterns, while a small chip in the pocket processes the data. It’s based on evaluating the stages of sleep through respiration only, which is still somewhat experimental but a factor that sleep clinics use. Nyx’s charts here show tracking of cycles from light and deep sleep to REM sleep. Moving to home testing with the aim of being in market by 2012 at less than $100. SmartPlanet. More details in MIT Technology Review.