About the Sleep sensor
Introduction
The sleep sensor is an ‘under mattress’ sensor that can detect heart rate, breathing rate, and movements of the user. Once it is installed, and plugged into, it will require very little maintenance or adjustment. It is compatible with all mattresses (other than water or air mattresses). You will not be able to feel the sleep sensor through the mattress when you are in bed and can continue with your normal sleep routines.
How the sleep sensor works
The sleep sensor (called a Sleep Analyzer) is located under the mattress, beneath the chest of the user. The sleep sensor automatically inflates with air. Movement, breathing and heart rates can be detected by changes of air pressure within the sensor.
When it is plugged into the power supply, the sensor will calibrate itself and you may hear some quiet whirring noises as it inflates and adjusts to the mattress. The bed should be unoccupied during calibration, which takes about 10 minutes.
In most locations, the sleep sensor connects directly to a cellular network (like a 3G smartphone) to send the sleep data to our systems directly. However the cellular network that the sleep mat uses is currently available in 80% of the UK with weaker coverage in the west of the UK.
If you do not live in an area with this cellular coverage, we will ask you to download a simple app from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. This app is made by Withings (who manufacture the sleep mat), and serves the single purpose of connecting your sleep sensor to your home’s wifi network, so that it can send us the sleep data through your home’s internet connection.
The data collected by the sleep sensor
The Sleep Analyzer collects the following data:
Pneumatic sensor: measures respiratory rate and heart rate, and body movements across the mattress, including when somebody gets in or out of bed.
Sound sensor: identifies audio signals specific to snoring & cessation of breathing episodes. Please note, the sleep sensor cannot record or save sound such as conversations, protecting your privacy.
Using the sleep sensor
In the normal course of events, you do not need to interact directly with the sleep sensor, and can follow your usual sleep routine. The sleep sensor should remain connected reliably, and we will contact you if there is unexplained missing data for a few days that could indicate a technical issue.
Please make sure the sensors remain plugged in. If it is temporarily unplugged (e.g. for the vacuum cleaner), you can just plug it in again, and it will recalibrate and reconnect automatically.
If you make any permanent changes to your sleeping habits, e.g. moving to a different bed, or swapping sides with a partner, please move the sleep sensor with you accordingly.
If you have any particular regular habits that you think might make the sleep data look unusual to researchers (e.g. you regularly move beds in the night due to a snoring partner, please let the research team know).
If you move home for a significant period (more than a couple of weeks), please consider taking the sleep mat with you. We can help you with any technical support.