A Look at What Apple Could Do With Beddit's Sleep Technology

[MacRumors]

Apple recently purchased Beddit, a sleep monitoring system that pairs a pliable under-sheet sleep sensor with an app, all of which is designed to help users analyze and improve their sleeping habits.

The acquisition is unusual because it appears Apple plans to keep selling the Beddit hardware while collecting sleep-related data from users. For that reason, we took a look at some of the things Apple might be planning to do with this data and how it might impact future products.

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Apple's Beddit purchase came to light because Beddit updated its privacy policy to both highlight the acquisition and implement Apple's privacy rules. "Your personal data will be collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Apple Privacy Policy," reads the site.

Apple appears to have purchased Beddit for its sleep sensing technology. Beddit uses a $150 sleep monitoring device that's placed under the bottom sheet of a mattress, collecting data on everything from sleep time and efficiency to heart rate and respiration. It also tracks movement, snoring, room temperature, and room humidity to determine factors that might disturb sleep.

Beddit's sensor uses ballistocardiography (BCG) to measure the mechanical activity of the heart, lungs, and other body functions, a non-invasive monitoring technology that's similar to the light-based photoplethysmography the Apple Watch uses to monitor heart rate.

With BCG, when the heart beats, it measures the mechanical impulse generated by the acceleration of the blood through the circulatory system, providing a wealth of data about the body.

Apple is likely interested in the sensor technology used in the Beddit device, and has indeed hired medical experts who have worked with ballistocardiography in the past, but the data collected also seems to be of interest due to the company's decision to keep selling the Beddit sensor.

Beddit's technology and data could be used for any number of things, from advancing sleep research for efforts like HealthKit and CareKit to implementing more advanced health-tracking technology and sleep monitoring functionality into the Apple Watch or other future wearable devices.

For the immediate future, it appears Apple will continue to sell the Beddit hardware as part of a standalone brand like Beats, but the company's longer-term plans for Beddit are unknown.

Article Link: A Look at What Apple Could Do With Beddit's Sleep Technology

 

[_Refurbished_]

Today's news has been a real snooze....

 

[mi7chy]

Any technology to silence the neighbor's dog?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Dunno about your mattresses, but on mine, the sheet that fits over the mattress is the bottom sheet. The top sheet is the one that goes under the blanket.

 

[jclo]

Dunno about your mattresses, but on mine, the sheet that fits over the mattress is the bottom sheet. The top sheet is the one that goes under the blanket.

Yes, it goes under the bottom sheet. I've fixed the error. Thanks.

 

[JPLC]

I think I need this but not sure that I want it.

 

[pat500000]

I doubt sleeping beauty would need somethingn like this.

 

[steve333]

For people with ES (Electric Sensitivity) they will probably have trouble sleeping wearing the watch.
The readout will also be affected by the fact that having wi-fi and EMFs next to you while sleeping is bad in the first place

 

[busyscott]

Apple is about to do it again!!!

...and by "it" I mean solve a problem that no one has.

 

[Vanilla35]

Very detailed results, which are impressive. The premise of a smart alarm is used by many other products out there as well. Including the one from my icon, which I love. But I bought it for other reasons than that.

I don't think this stuff will help beyond telling whether you are in deep sleep vs light sleep. Environmental issues preventing sleep can be corrected fairly easily, Emotional or cognitive issues won't be as easy, and those are likely to be the major reasons for causing sleep loss and restlessness.

 

[Analog Kid]

I think stuff like this is really useful for research, but I'm not sure how it helps the average consumer. I'm not even to the point that sleep quality is a problem-- I need to solve my sleep quantity problem. All the graphs in the world aren't going to solve it though. Just like all the fitness tracking in my watch isn't solving the problem that I don't exercise enough.

I could generate a 20 page Keynote presentation full of precision data on my lack of sleep and exercise, but it doesn't really change the facts.
[doublepost=1494459426][/doublepost]Side note: I thought ballistocardiography was something assasins studied...

 

[6836838]

Not long before that implanted RFID chip!

 

[Bacillus]

Apple is about to do it again!!!...and by "it" I mean solve a problem that no one has.

Board meetings might become less disturbing with synchronous R.E.M. sleep (after Eddy Cue's late entry from Hollywood, that is )
OT: could be a (para-) medical discipline requiring no certification that they're frantic about

 

[Charles50]

Dunno about your mattresses, but on mine, the sheet that fits over the mattress is the bottom sheet. The top sheet is the one that goes under the blanket.

What, don't you have a mattress pad between your bottom sheet and the mattress? That's gross, your mattress will get dirty without it. You can wash a mattress pad but you can't wash the mattress.

 

[Mactendo]

I'm glad Apple purchased it, from that I learned such thing exists. Sounds really interesting and useful.
I hope Apple won't discontinue it one day.

 

[Asarien]

I would get a great night's sleep by keeping the room dark and going to bed at a reasonable time. No app required.

Technology is always pitched as making our lives better. In reality, much of it is pointless, and it's destroying our humanity.

 

[kingpushup]

Always on watch band? Seems more comfortable for sleep if a stand-alone simple band. All good.

 

[Vanilla35]

I would get great a great night's sleep by keeping the room dark and going to bed at a reasonable time. No app required.

Technology is always pitched as making our lives better. In reality, much of it is pointless, and it's destroying our humanity.

I don't share that perspective. Definitely a lot of it thinks it solves a problem that can help improve one's life, but in reality doesn't. However I think that overall the end goal is to optimize one's life and keep your mind focused on important things, while slowly but surely filtering out every little nuisance that comes up in everyday life.

 

[britboyj]

I've been using a Beddit 2 I got for Christmas and it's been interesting at picking out things that suck about my sleep patterns. Their latest update stopps Beddit 2 support, so last week the company gave everyone who had one a FREE Beddit 3. No paying for shipping, no tricks, just a free new unit.

They were VERY aggressive about getting people to upgrade. In-app notifcations, emails, the whole nine.

The acquisition was announced like four days later.

I wonder if they just did this as a gesture of good faith instead of making a lot of people go "Oh Apple bought them and the old one stopped working! **** that!"

 

[Vanilla35]

I've been using a Beddit 2 I got for Christmas and it's been interesting at picking out things that suck about my sleep patterns. Their latest update stopps Beddit 2 support, so last week the company gave everyone who had one a FREE Beddit 3. No paying for shipping, no tricks, just a free new unit.

They were VERY aggressive about getting people to upgrade. In-app notifcations, emails, the whole nine.

The acquisition was announced like four days later.

I wonder if they just did this as a gesture of good faith instead of making a lot of people go "Oh Apple bought them and the old one stopped working! **** that!"

Maybe they think their company will be stripped, or changed for the worst with the new acquisition. Wouldn't assume that to happen with Apple having purchased, but you never know. I haven't been following internal changes within other companies they've acquired.

 

[Cloudkicker]

So if it doesn't work, they can say: "Your sleeping it wrong."?

 

[RiddlaBronc]

In other news. Apple is said to be working on solving the world's sleeping problem.
Rumor has it it will be called the Apple EMP.
It will disable all electronics devices that keep you up at night prompting you to head to bed early with no distractions.

Win!

 

[bLackjackj]

I've been using a Beddit 2 I got for Christmas and it's been interesting at picking out things that suck about my sleep patterns. Their latest update stopps Beddit 2 support, so last week the company gave everyone who had one a FREE Beddit 3. No paying for shipping, no tricks, just a free new unit.

They were VERY aggressive about getting people to upgrade. In-app notifcations, emails, the whole nine.

The acquisition was announced like four days later.

I wonder if they just did this as a gesture of good faith instead of making a lot of people go "Oh Apple bought them and the old one stopped working! **** that!"

[doublepost=1494468358][/doublepost]Good faith? It's 2017,..its so that data can still be made available to Apple. Data = $

 

[Yumbo]

Does it work with electric blankets?

 

[ipedro]

I didn't think I had a problem with sleep although the symptoms of poor sleep were there. I was just used to waking up tired and groggy until I had my shower and coffee and accepted that that's how I was in the morning.

Then I got a Withings Aura just because I like gadgets and needed a new alarm clock. The smart alarm function was life changing for me. My alarm stopped waking me up in the middle of R.E.M. and I stopped worrying that I'd miss my alarm because I'd be in such deep sleep that I wouldn't hear it or slam the snooze button in my sleep. I now awake gradually after my final R.E.M. cycle and feel like I got a good night's rest without that sense that I missed out on sleep.

Aura also introduced me to the concept of 20 minute naps. It's my favourite feature. If I'm tired through the day, I lay down for a quick catnap, the Aura's sounds and light luls me to sleep and wakes me up gradually as I approach the 20 minutes. I wake up refreshed and ready to pick up on my day.

While I'm happy with my Aura, it feels neglected by Withings in terms of app updates and integration into my other smart home devices, including HomeKit.

Apple buying Beddit really got my attention. I'd love to have the functions of Aura but with Siri controls, iOS' own alarm clock, HomeKit support and native HealthKit integration. I could likely replicate all of Aura's functions using my own bedroom Phillips Hue HomeKit lights.

I'll await to see what Nokia does now that they own Withings but I may soon put it for sale if Apple makes the right moves itself.