As essential as it is to our overall wellbeing, sleep is eluding more and more people every day. From long working hours to digital media, our modern lifestyles always seem to find a way to keep us awake. In a twist of irony, the answer to our insomnia lies in one of its main causes – technology.

With so many people struggling to get the shuteye they need, tech companies are stepping in with a myriad of solutions designed to help us sleep better and for longer. So, what are the most exciting trends in this sector, and what should you be looking out for? Read on to discover five exciting trends in sleep technology.

Sleep Apps

Breathing exercises are a tried-and-tested way to induce sleep, but as the meditation app market has proven, a little guidance is often necessary for them to be followed. This is where apps like 2breathe come in, using connected technology to assist you in following sleep-inducing breathing exercises.

The user wears a sensor around their torso, which uses Bluetooth to send information about their breathing patterns to the 2breathe smartphone app. From here, it provides guidance on the correct breathing patterns to follow. Once the device detects that you’re sleeping, it powers off and generates a report detailing the falling asleep process.

Wall Plugs

Equal parts simple and interesting, the Sleep Acoustics Wall Plug by Nightingale is comprised of two units, which get placed in separate sections of the room. They’re meant to create a “blanket of sound” that’s tailored to the specific acoustics of your bedroom. This, of course, is controlled by an app that allows you to customize the experience.

Mattress Coolers

Overheating is one of the most prevalent causes of sleep deprivation. One solution comes in the form of the Kyro Sleep System, an app-controlled mattress cooler that uses data about your sleeping cycles to determine an ideal temperature. You can set your own sleep profiles and connect to other smart devices to further improve functionality.

Of course, a quality mattress is just as important, especially one constructed from a breathable material. Considering the plethora of Presidents Day mattress sales that hit the market – the three-day weekend is the perfect time to invest in a new centrepiece for your sleep haven.

Contactless Sleep Trackers

Sleep trackers have been around in some form or another for some time now, but contactless technology has allowed them to reach new heights. Take the Emfit QS, which uses an array of flex-material sensor pads that are hidden away under the mattress, thus making them completely unobtrusive.

From here, the app-connected devices track and report on data such as heart rate, physical recovery, sleep time and quality, as well as a number of athlete-focused metrics like autonomic nervous system balance. If you want to know every single detail about how you sleep, this is one way to do it.

Sleep Monitors

Most sleep tracking devices are designed to collect and report data about your sleep habits. However, some have another purpose in mind. For instance, the ScanWatch by Withings is capable of detecting cardiovascular and sleep issues such as arrhythmia and sleep apnea at an early stage.

It does this by monitoring its wearer’s heart rate and alerting them if anything irregular is detected. Using an Sp02 sensor, the device can also check for sleep apnea and provide a report on each condition through the connected smartphone app. If they’re accurate enough, devices like these can be potentially life-saving for countless people.

These are some of the most compelling sleep technology trends to hit the market so far. Be sure to look out for new innovations as the industry continues to progress and innovate.