In recent years, sleep technology has become increasingly popular and widespread, with more and more people turning to devices and apps to help them get a good night’s rest. Insomnia is becoming increasingly common, with almost three quarters of people in the UK not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. This can have serious health consequences, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and even mental health problems, and it also has a significant impact on the economy, costing the UK up to £40bn a year in lost productivity. As a result, the sleep technology sector is predicted to grow rapidly in the coming years, from $15bn in 2022 to $67bn by 2030.
There are many different types of sleep technology available, including devices that track sleep patterns, apps that provide restful meditation, and services that help manage sleep disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), part of NHS England, recommends the app Sleepio for people suffering from insomnia. The app has a virtual sleep assistant called “The Prof” powered by AI software, which aims to help users get to sleep more easily.
However, while sleep technology can be helpful, there are also downsides to using devices and apps in the middle of a sleepless night. For example, the potentially stimulating effect of technology can make it harder to fall asleep, and the need to pick up a phone, open an app, and scroll through options can be stimulating and counterproductive. Sleep expert Alison Francis suggests that people should try to learn from technology so that they can ultimately get to sleep without it, and that some people will need a more medically-based approach that involves in-person monitoring and a bespoke therapy program.
Nonetheless, many people who struggle to get to sleep are turning to sleep technology as a means of improving their sleep quality. The meditation app and website Calm offers soothing bedtime stories that users can play through their phone speakers, and many people find that the slow, calming voices and longer pauses between sentences help them to relax and drift off. Headspace is another app that aims to help users boost their mental wellbeing through meditation, and more than a third of its members use its sleep content, including sleep stories, sleep courses, and sleep music.
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