Are you looking for alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications? Here’s our pick of the top sleep technology products that can help you get those much-needed Zzzzs

By Jisha Krishnan

Fitbit is rolling out its personalised Sleep Score component, while Apple Watch is all set to get a new sleep tracking feature. Sleep tech is trending and how! From chic sleep trackers and snooze-inducing headphones to innovative alarm clocks, smart pillowcases and memory foam mattresses, there are countless products that claim to monitor and actively improve the quality of one’s sleep.

Poor sleep not only increases one’s risk of serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes, studies show that it can even affect DNA and shorten life expectancy. As more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of good sleep in maintaining optimal health and well-being, the demand for sleep tech gadgets is on an upward trajectory.

For those looking for alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications, here’s our pick of the top sleep technology products that can help you get those much-needed Zzzzs:

Withings Sleep Tracking Pad

Do you really snore every night? Withings Sleep Tracking Pad, a nifty device that slides under your mattress, can help you answer that question. It can also provide you with a Sleep Score every morning, based on in-depth sleep cycle analysis and heart rate tracking. The accompanying Health Mate app is popular for its customised tips on improving the quality of sleep.

Kokoon sleep-aiding headphones

Touted as the world’s first sleep-aiding headphones, this smart device is perfect for those who struggle to fall asleep in unfamiliar surroundings or while travelling. The sensor-enabled headphones come armed with three levels of noise protection – including an active audio seal – to help you disconnect from the outside world. What’s more, the headphones and designated app are designed to analyse brain activity and learn over time what kind of audio works best for your sleep.

Dreem Headband

A high-tech headband, this gadget tracks sleep by recording and analysing brain activity via EEG sensors, heart rate and respiration. Not only does it give you a comprehensive report of each night’s sleeping patterns, but also aids you in getting deeper sleep, courtesy its sleep coach tech and smart alarm. Now, there’s also a second-generation headband that works like a dream!

Dodow Sleep Machine

Imagine if you could train your body to fall asleep naturally. This deceptively small sleep aid device does just that! A metronome combined with a light system that teaches your body to fall asleep with ease, Dodow Sleep Machine urges users with guided breathing exercises to get some shuteye. The idea is to slow metabolism and ease the flow of thoughts, with the right tech.

Pegasi Smart Sleep Glasses II

Designed by a Chinese health-tech firm, these smart sleep glasses are easy-to-use light-therapy product that helps users sleep better. Based on research conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the technology used here addresses sleep problems as well as daytime energy levels, productivity and moods. Just put on the glasses first thing in the morning, keep them on for 30 minutes, and you are all set to seize the day (and night).

Neuro Beat

EEG-equipped sleep devices are in vogue. And Korean healthcare devices firm Dlogixs has got a winner on hand. Based on patented Real-Time Binaural Sound (RBS) Technology, Neuro Beat works on a simple premise: Converting any music into RBS tracks, proven to improve sleep, at the touch of a button. Of the four products in this range, the Neuro Beat Puck and Compact are ideal for average sleep-deprived individuals, while Neuro Beat Alpha Pro and Alpha AI are perfect for those looking for neuro-feedback-based insights to improve their quality of sleep.

Philips Somneo

Ever thought of augmenting your alarm with light? Well, Philips did. Working on the principle of artificial dawn, this smart alarm mimics natural sunrise to trick the body into easing out of deeper sleep phases. The built-in sensors measure the room’s temperature, noise, humidity levels, etc., to make suggestions that help you sleep better. The best feature, perhaps, is the sunset-style bedtime mode that plays soothing sounds or guides you through breathing exercises to help you doze off.

Uvex Skyper Goggles

Fans of screen-filtering software on laptops and light-filtering bulbs will love this Google product! These fab glasses filter everything to ensure that the troublesome blue light – bane of our modern existence – doesn’t wreak havoc with your body’s circadian rhythm. Just put them on an hour or so before going to bed and you can be rest assured that your brain gets the message to start winding down. Sleep will no longer be evasive.