Sleep monitors

Sleeping while wired up with an EEG cap would be hard enough here on Earth, but can you imagine trying to do so in the zero-gravity environment of outer space? It could be quite awkward, which is why an earbud has been designed to do the same job.

Scientists in China have developed a smart pillow designed to offer an accessible and accurate sleep-tracking solution, monitoring the quality of rest through head movements, which work to power the system at the same time.

The assessment of sleep apnea typically involves spending a night at a clinic, wired up to sensors that may actually keep the patient from sleeping normally. According to recent research, though, a Fitbit-like device could serve the same purpose.

These earbuds look a bit weird, sure. But they're expressly designed to shepherd you off to sleep, counteracting runaway thoughts and snoring lumps in your bed. And unlike the original Kokoon headphones, they're targeted at side sleepers too.

In order to track how someone's body position changes as they sleep, they typically have to be rigged up with sensors, or filmed by a video camera. MIT's new BodyCompass system, however, offers a third alternative that many people may prefer.

When tracking a sleeping person's eye movements, you typically have to stick hard-wired electrodes onto their face. Soon, however, an unobtrusive flexible mask could do the job – while also measuring their heart rate.

The Kokoon Bluetooth headphones are deeply comfortable and deliver solid sound. However, the "sleep enhancing" bells and whistles are a little inconsistent for headphones priced at the luxury end of the market, so they're not for everyone.

Getting a good night's sleep is not normally listed among the joys of parenting, and anything that could help your baby and yourself catch some extra rest is worth a look. The Cradlewise cradle is designed to do just that.

​People with insomnia sometimes undergo sleep studies, in which they slumber in a clinic while wired to various sensors – perhaps not the best way to replicate their typical sleeping environment. Soon, however, they may simply be able to wear electronic pyjamas, which are currently in development.

​While there are already fitness trackers and smartwatches that are designed to track the wearer's sleep patterns, an international team of scientists believe that with the right software, regular smartwatches are more than up to the job. To that end, they've created an app known as SleepGuard.

Somnox is the latest attempt to address sleep deprivation using technology, this time in the form of a robotic pillow that is claimed to improve sleep by helping regulate breathing and playing sleep-inducing sounds.

The Motiv Ring is exactly what it sounds like, a device to track your sleep, heart rate, steps and activities, all wrapped right around your finger. ​