How do smartwatches track sleep? A Detailed explanation

In the recent Times, the advancements of the technology have also enabled the things that were considered to be impossible in the previous years. Well,  the accessibility and the convenience that we have been experiencing is surely because of these credible advances of technology. Things have become easier to accomplish and thus , there is an urge to understand how these gadgets successfully perform various functions.

For example, even the latest smartwatches are created in collaboration with amazing technology that accurately measures the heart beat and your motion. These smartwatches have innumerable advantages and hence, have become the public favorite rapidly.

But have we ever wondered , how do these smartwatches track and monitor our sleep with such accurate results? Well, if this question has struck you even once, then let us look at the mechanism behind it. Of course, sleep monitoring is not rocket science and is easier to understand. This feature is found not only in smartwatches but also in other gadgets. It is good to track your sleep data as it helps to analyze your routine. Sleep tracking helps to improvise our diet and promotes well being.

Accelerometer
Accelerometer (image source: wiki.seeedstudio.com)

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are equipped with accelerometers. These accelerometers have the ability to sense the motion of the individual. These accelerometers also track the movements of the individual. Thus, the activity can be easily tracked due to the use of accelerometers.

The movements of the wrists are translated to detect the sleep cycle. This process of translating movements to detect sleep is known as actigraphy. The device that is used to detect the sleep pattern is also known as actigraph. Most smartwatches are actigraphs as they detect the sleep patterns. These smartwatches analyze the sleep cycle and also enable the wearer to improve their routines inorder to ensure better sleep quality.

However, the sleep monitored by the smartwatches may not necessarily be accurate every time. This is because the sleep is detected on basis of the movement. In some cases, where people face disruptions in the sleep cycle or have sleep disorders, the data of the sleep cycle might not be accurate. The sleep quality is also determined by sensing the heart rate of the individual during the night. Basically, the data of the sleep cycle is also based on the duration in which the body remained still. This is another factor that helps smartwatches to wonderfully record and track the sleep patterns and cycles of an individual.

The smartwatches are incredible in terms of recording sleep but they still cannot be compared to polysomnographs. Polysomnographs provide an unquestionable accuracy in sleep tracking as they assess many factors such as brain waves to track the sleep of an individual.  These factors help to give a nearfoolproof result of the sleep cycle. But the sleep data recorded by the sleep trackers such as smartwatches can be questionable at times. Inaccurate outcomes can occur in cases of people with sleep disorders and also in those who face sleep disruptions.

So, this is how smartwatches track your sleep cycle. Smartwatches are reliable in sleep tracking and can be useful in various instances.

Android Smartwatches
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