In an age of sleep optimisation, newly developed devices offer the promise of perfect sleep, but do they work?
According to a global report, the sleep tracker industry was valued at over $30 billion in 2023, a figure forecasted to reach $75 billion by 2032.
Frontrunners in the sleep tech sphere include the Oura ring and the Whoop band, wearables that, amongst other things, claim to aid sleep optimisation.
From the hefty price tags these devices come with, consumers expect product efficiency. However, Sleep Expert James Wilson, professionally known as The Sleep Geek, argues that these wearables aren’t successful at bettering your rest.
He believes that, in actuality, they are proving to be a catalyst for orthosomnia, a medical term given to people who have an unhealthy obsession with getting ‘perfect’ sleep.
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The Sleep Geek says: “You can’t force sleep, and you also can’t create perfect sleep. Wearables are a big part of what is causing orthosomnia because the statistics they show lead to people developing obsessive tendencies with checking them and trying to improve them.
“The worst part about it is that I don’t believe that these devices are accurate. I’ve worked on the commercial side of sleep my whole working life, so I know the lies they can tell.
“I think a major part of the issue is that sleep is so profitable. Whenever you attach the label ‘sleep’ to things, they become a lot more expensive. If you relabel a room spray as a sleep spray, it is suddenly 30% more expensive because we’re all so desperate to get a good night’s sleep.
“It is because of this that you rarely see genuine marketing anymore, it’s all overblown claims to stand out because the market is so crowded, which is so beyond evident for wearable brands.”
On the other side of the argument, Holly Robson owns an Oura ring: “As a student, it was a big investment for me. Sleep is so important to me, and with the Oura ring, I’ve been able to regulate my sleeping times.
“I definitely think there’s an argument that it could be a placebo effect, but for me, even if that’s the case, I’ve reaped benefits from owning one and will continue to do so.”
I guess the question to ask is, would you try this tech?
