CES: Sleep Smart

WithingsDo you get enough sleep? And do you get quality sleep. Withings Aura is a 2014 CES Innovations Award honoree in the Health & Fitness category and it is designed to monitor and improve the quality of sleep.

The unit discreetly records a user’s sleeping environment and provides a complete understanding of sleep patterns. Using revolutionary and scientifically-validated light and sound programs, Withings Aura positively impacts the wake-up and fall-asleep experience, which are both instrumental in improving sleep cycles and overall well-being.

Withings Aura is comprised of a soft and discreet sleep sensor that slips under a user’s mattress and works in synchronization with the sensitively designed bedside device. Together, the two units record and monitor an array of factors, which provides a deep understanding of the sleeping experience. The sleep sensor focuses on personal patterns (body movements, breathing cycles and heart rate) while the bedside device screens your bedroom environment (noise pollution, room temperature and light levels).

With this data Withings Aura can provide users with scientifically-validated light and sound programs that will adapt to one’s personal body clock and positively impact the sleeping conditions. The multi-color LED dimming lighting technology makes the most of a proven correlation between lighting wavelengths and secretion of Melatonin, the hormone responsible for the sleep-wake cycle, whilst delicate sound programs replicate the circadian rhythm’s frequency and pattern. These can be relaxing as one falls asleep, and stimulating upon waking up.

In other words, good sleep!

Withings Official Website

CES Preview: The Echo Gets Awarded Again

EchoThe Magellan Echo made its debut this year at the Outdoor Retailer 2013 show and received two Best-in-Shows wards. Now it has been named a 2014 CES Innovations Award Honoree. This is the first smartwatch dedicated to running by connecting smartphone fitness apps to the wrist.

It utilizes Bluetooth Smart to wirelessly connect with a handset and provides control of apps, with support from Strava, MapMyFitness, iSmoothRun and Wahoo Fitness. The rugged watch is water-resistant and can go the distance. We look forward to taking a closer look at the Echo at next month’s 2014 International CES. Video after the jump