5 reasons why you should buy a smart pillow

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Generally speaking, the main goal of most smart technologies is to improve your life and daily routines. That’s why so many previously innocuous objects have now incorporated smart technology, and in ways you might not expect. For example, even the pillow on your bed can be smart, adjusting for comfort on the fly and tracking your sleeping habits to help you get a good night’s sleep.

A comfortable pillow is one of the most essential investments you can make, as it could be the deciding factor between restful sleep and staying awake at night. After all, according to experts, creating the right atmosphere is one of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep. If you’ve been unhappy with a particular pillow before, the inherent flexibility of a smart pillow can better suit your needs, while also providing benefits like pleasant wake-ups and relaxations and integrations with other smart technology in your bedroom.

Coping with poor sleep is a battle of information; each data point can help you find the kind of rest you’re looking for. Unfortunately, when you’re exhausted in the middle of the night, you’re probably not in the right frame of mind to troubleshoot. However, you can track your sleep on devices like an Apple Watch, which provide sleep data to view the next morning. But for a method more integrated with your actual sleep, there are smart pillows.

Instead of just keeping a virtual eye on your movements and heart rate, a smart pillow can track your sleep patterns from the most viable vantage point: right under your head. A typical smart pillow is filled with sensors that track your movements, sounds you make like snoring, and your body temperature. These stats are usually sent via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a companion smartphone app, where you can check the reading in the morning. This information provides useful ideas for improving sleep quality and adjusting your habits or the condition of your bed for the following night.

Of course, if the only thing a smart pillow did was track your sleeping habits, it wouldn’t be much better than a smartphone app. However, these high-tech pillows don’t just monitor, they also respond. Some versions, like the Enjoymon Anti-Snore Smart Pillow, feature a hidden set of micro-airbags, which can automatically inflate and deflate as needed to give you the perfect resting position. Using information from its sensors, a smart pillow can determine if you’re lying in an uncomfortable position and strategically redistribute air to improve your comfort.

This inflation process is generally quiet and gradual so as not to wake you, and is especially valuable for those who tend to snore. The pillow’s sound sensors detect snoring and change airbag inflation to adjust the position of your head and neck and clear your airway. Depending on the model, the pillow may also use tiny vibrations to gradually lull you into deep, proper sleep.

For some people, the hardest part of getting a good night’s sleep is simply falling asleep. The adjustment features of a smart pillow would be of no use if you can’t fall asleep at all. These same features, however, can be used to start your evening off on the right foot in addition to guiding you through the night. Using a smart pillow’s companion app, you can usually program it to perform a pre-sleep routine to get into the right frame of mind. This may include using built-in heating or cooling pads to create an ideal temperature and immediately adapt to your optimal sleeping position.

Additionally, some models, like the Beorhtmom Smart Pillow, are equipped with audio functions, delivered via built-in speakers. Thanks to these, the pillow can emit soothing sounds like white noise or ambience. Depending on the specific functions of the pillow’s companion app, you’ll also be able to stream your favorite music or sounds directly from your phone.

Unlike the relaxation functions of a smart pillow, it can also help you start the day off right. There are plenty of cool alarm clocks for heavy sleepers, but such measures can be loud and jarring, especially if you’re sharing your bed with someone. Rather than waking you up with a burst of noise or strong vibrations, a smart pillow can gradually bring you back to the waking world.

Just as these pillows use gentle vibrations and temperature adjustments to help you fall asleep, they can use the same features to wake you up, shaking your head lightly but firmly and using heat to mimic the morning sun on your face. The pillow’s internal speaker can also be used to deliver a soft and distinct morning ambiance, such as the sounds of birdsong or your favorite music for easy listening. All of this helps wake you up slowly from bed rather than forcefully rousing you from a deep sleep with a sudden, obnoxious alarm.

A major part of the adaptability of smart devices is their ability to communicate and activate with each other. A smart pillow can be a very useful device on its own, but if you have smart technology throughout your home, especially in your bedroom, it could become the keystone for more elaborate bedtime and morning procedures. For a smart pillow with the right integrations and compatibility, it can communicate with other smart devices in your home, networked through frameworks like Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

This allows you to use multiple devices and appliances in tandem to create the perfect sleeping atmosphere. For example, when it’s time for bed, you can trigger your smart pillow to perform its adjustment and relaxation routines while your smart thermostat automatically lowers the bedroom temperature. Then, when morning arrives, as soon as your pillow begins its wake-up routine, your smart lights could also gradually turn on to further help you wake up.