Google Launches Sleep Monitoring Technology
New Nest Hub “Sleep Sensing” application provides an array of rest quality monitoring measurements
Google, a business unit of Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has introduced a new generation of Nest Hub technology that will help its users monitor the quality of their restfulness. The new Nest Hub combines several ambient sensory technologies to provide composite insights to user sleep patterns with its opt-in Sleep Sensing program.
Google is addressing an important underlying healthcare issue as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 70 million people in the United States do not get enough sleep.
Sleep Sensing works in several ways to measure rest quality levels
The new Nest Hub Sleep Sensing application monitors and compiles data from several human rest and rest environment factors that impact sleep.
These are the key parameters Sleep Sensing measures:
- Breathing
- Coughing
- Lighting changes
- Movement
- Room temperature changes
- Snoring
This formulation of elements assesses the overall sleeping patterns of users that seek the rest monitoring support of the new Nest Hub.
Google technology in action
Google is a global leader in finding new and innovative ways to apply technology in clinical and consumer healthcare.
A key component of the new Nest Hub’s sleep monitoring capabilities is a small, low-energy radar sensor known as Soli that is ultra-sensitive to movement within its effective range. The Soli technology is supported by Nest Hub’s fully integrated microphones, light and temperature sensors that each generate data as part of the complete Sleep Sensing application. Nest Hub and the Sleep Sensing application do not use a camera.
The data is processed through a proprietary interpretative sleep data algorithm. Google developed it by analyzing over a million hours of radar monitoring data compiled through their own sleep pattern studies.
Sleep Sensing evaluates a user’s sleep in three ways:
- Duration
- Quality
- Schedule
Information is retained so the user can monitor their sleep patterns over time in a reporting format.
Consumer privacy is fully accounted for by Sleep Sensing
Nest Hub keeps much of the sleep monitoring data, including audio and radar data, local to the user. Composite data in summary form is sent to Google servers and it has no plans to commercialize it through targeted advertising.
While users can have the data ported to their Google Fit apps on Android or iOS devices they do not have to wear any Sleep Sensing devices to be monitored by it while they sleep.
In the future, it’s certain that new ways for Sleep Sensing data to be optimized or shared with other devices such as Google’s (Alphabet) Fitbit products will be introduced.
Many types of consumers can benefit from Nest Hub’s sleep monitoring support
Getting the appropriate amount of quality sleep is pivotal for mental and physical well-being. Mind and body need time to rest and rebuild. Many people are unaware of the impact that sleep quality has on their total wellness.
As people sleep their mental and physical functions continue to operate but in modes different from their wakeful hours. During their sleep, the mind and physical being continue to function to realign, heal and re-energize themselves. Nest Hub Sleep Sensing is here to help.
Sleep Sensing can provide these and other users on this list with the support to monitor the duration and quality of their rest:
- The 9-to-5 crowd that wants to verify they are getting appropriate rest
- Swing shift careerists in manufacturing, police, fire, medical, mining, public transit, media, casino, hospitality, airlines and military roles with alternating sleep schedules
- Amateur and professional athletes who carefully calculate their sleep just as they do calories, physical workouts and other elements of training
- Individuals experiencing chronic or episodic insomnia that wish to monitor their activity and rest balance
- Persons experiencing peaks and troughs of stressfulness in their personal and/or professional lives that impact the quality of their sleep
As Google adds new capabilities to Sleep Sensing and Nest Hub, even more consumers will benefit from its personal care support attributes.
The new Nest Hub from Google is a valuable wellness resource in a competitive market
Nest Hub’s convenient and helpful sleep monitoring features are a prime example of how technology continues to have a growing role in healthcare.
Alphabet’s healthcare enterprises that encompass Verily Life Science, Google Health Cloud and Google Fit are vying for clinical, consumer and commercial customers. Their competition is formidable.
Amazon’s Halo and Care Hub are making a splash in consumer wearables and home healthcare. Other virtual health and remote monitoring technologies continue to emerge in the consumer and medical professional marketplaces from contenders like Apple, Livongo and NightWare.
Moving forward, Sleep Sensing and Nest Hub customers can rest easy as they can anticipate even more helpful healthcare innovations from Google.
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