Sleep sensor – FAQs
What if I already have my own Withings sleep sensor under my mattress?
Please let the team know and we can discuss options to suit your needs.
What if I already have a Withings account and use other withings devices?
To protect your privacy, and to meet our ethical obligations, we need to use a dedicated (and anonymous) Withings account for your research Sleep Sensor. Please do not try to add your Sleep Analyzer to any existing Withings account.
Can the sleep sensor hear conversations?
The sleep sensor has an audio sensor (to detect snoring and gaps in breathing), but does not record sound. It cannot record, save, or transmit conversations, or other sounds and cannot provide detailed movement analysis.
How do I know the sleep sensor is working?
In the normal course of events, you will not need to interact with the sleep sensor directly. We will be alerted if sleep data is missing for more than 3 days in which case we will get in touch to see if there is a technical problem, or another reason for the missing data (such as you being away from home).
What happens if I change my WiFi?
If the Sleep Analyzer is configured to use your Wi-Fi (rather than the Data Hub) and you change your Wi-Fi or internet settings, the sleep sensor may need reconnecting. You may need to repeat step 4 in the instructions to add your new W-Fi details to the Sleep Analyzer. Please contact the team for any technical help you may need.
What happens if I am away from home?
We understand that there will be times when you will not sleep in your bed, for example when you go on holiday. That is completely fine, and you do not need to bring the mat with you, but we would be grateful if you could let your research team know if you plan to sleep elsewhere for more than 2 weeks, so that we do not worry that the mat is not working. However we do not expect everyone will remember to do this, and so please bear with us if we do call after a few days to check if you are away from home or if there is a technical issue that needs fixing.
How do I reset the data hub and sleep sensor (if asked to by the project team)?
If there are problems with the installation, we may ask you to reset the data hub and the sleep sensor.
To reset the data hub:
Make sure it is plugged in and turned on. Hold the button on the side of the data hub until the light goes red. Then hold for about 10 seconds, until the light goes out again. The hub is now reset, and may take up to 10 minutes to connect and show the green light again.
To reset the Sleep Mat (normally after resetting the hub).
- You will need a safety pin or similar to press the reset button on the device.
- Take the Sleep Analyzer out from under the mattress. But leave it plugged into the power supply.
- On the underside of the sensor, you can fold back the fabric cover to expose the hard plastic unit inside. On the bottom surface is either a button, or a small hole, labelled ‘Reset”. Press the button / Insert a safety pin into the hole. You should feel a ‘click’ as the button is engaged. Hold the reset button for 10 seconds, and then release. View this page for more explanation.
What if I get up in the night, or have disrupted sleep?
We want you to sleep exactly as you normally would so that we can see what people’s real sleeping habits are. It is not a problem at all if you get up or wake up in the night or have problems with your sleep.
Does it matter that I share a bed?
It is not at all a problem if you share a bed, or if that person wakes up in the night, wakes you up, snores, or has other difficulties with their sleep. We will ask you to install the mat on the side you sleep on, and it is designed to detect only your sleep habits.
Will the bed mat interrupt my internet connection?
If your data is being transferred using the Data Hub, it will not use your internet connection and will not affect it at all. If we need to connect the device to your WiFi, the amount of data the device sends is very small, and we would not expect this to have any noticeable effect on your internet connection.
Will I need to do anything to download the data?
No, once connected you do not need to do anything at all and the data will upload automatically.
I have a thick mattress, is that ok?
Yes, the bed mats are designed to work with a wide variety of mattresses including spring, latex, foam, and memory foam. It is not tested on airbeds or waterbeds, so please let us know if you are planning to use it with one of these.
I have a slatted bed, is that ok?
Yes, but if you have a slatted bed you will also need a bit of cardboard (e.g. the unfolded delivery box) to place under the sleep sensor. The cardboard should be 30cm by 60 cm or bigger.