Infants and sleep fit well together as subjects of wearable tracking technology. There’s the desire for another level of safety for parents. But for adults, studies that point to sleep as a key indicator of health, the increase in sleep apnea as well as the quantified self movement have helped drive the market for sleep tracking devices. Entrepreneurs are also applying sophisticated tracking technology and finding innovative ways to embed sensors in fabric. That’s why I picked Lark and Mimo for this wearables matchup.
Mimo’s sophisticated tracking tool to monitor infant vital signs is interesting for a few reasons. Embedding sensors in a onesie takes away the potential problem of an infant removing the senor or worse, ending up in its mouth. The sensors monitor the baby’s breathing, temperature and body position. They transmit the data to a smartphone or tablet. It also gives concerned parents another way to keep an eye on their child from another room. A companion app for Androids and iOS devices lets parents view stats based on the data collected, such as the number of times their baby turned over during the night.
Lark developed a wristband that’s designed to be a personalized sleep coach to help users track sleep time and patterns. It delivery snapshot assessments from data compiled over one week span. The idea is for users to compare when they slept well and badly and how to change that by setting targets and changing behavior. The sleep disorder and treatment market represents a $6 billion market opportunity. But it’s also increasingly crowded with several companies adding on sleep tracking to their tracking capabilities. Lark has succeeded in getting its devices into Apple’s retail and online stores.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Its device uses wrist actigraphy and an accelerometer to measure activity. A study by Ohio researchers concluded that wrist actigraphy wasn’t a reliable way to track sleep because it overestimates sleep.
Winner: Mimo baby monitor
Why? Mimo addresses the fears of every parent by giving them more ways to track their infant’s health. I can see a lot of parents, especially first time parents, embracing this technology. The sensors embedded in the fabric sets it apart even more. It also has the potential to have a bigger impact on healthcare.
