{"id":85,"date":"2016-12-31T20:20:03","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T20:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.buprojects.uk\/2016-2017\/samuelkersey\/?p=85"},"modified":"2017-01-23T07:13:24","modified_gmt":"2017-01-23T07:13:24","slug":"digital-relaxation-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blog.buprojects.uk\/2016-2017\/samuelkersey\/2016\/12\/31\/digital-relaxation-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Relaxation – Can Technology Help Us Unwind?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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These monkeys seem to have found their zen. Could specially designed technology help humans reach a similar state of bliss? Source: Flickr user Mika<\/a> on a Creative Commons license<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Technology is often associated with causing people stress. After all, we live in an era where 66% of Brits<\/a>\u00a0own a smartphone. The average user touches their device\u00a0over 2500 times a day<\/a>. Constant anticipation of\u00a0notifications<\/a> from email and social media can cause the calmest people\u00a0to feel slightly under siege.<\/p>\n

However, technology can also play an important role in alleviating anxiety. Resources have been created using digital media which can help us to relax in unexpected ways. Here are some\u00a0of the most intriguing recipes for computerised calm:<\/p>\n

Sleep Improvement Technology<\/h1>\n

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Source: Flickr user Maxi Walton<\/a> on a Creative Commons license<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sleep quality is understood to have significant implications<\/a> for our mood, health and decision making skills. Waking up during our deepest stage of sleep, REM (rapid eye movement), can cause us to become particularly irritable and worsen our self image.<\/p>\n

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A solution to this is the Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock<\/a>, available for Android and iOS smartphones.<\/p>\n

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Here is the app’s logo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A thirty minute window is selected for waking up, and the user is woken during\u00a0their lightest stage of sleep. This is achieved through tracking of sleep movement with the microphone or accelerometer.<\/p>\n

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The app graphs which allow users to track sleep quality. Source: Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock website<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Google Play users have rated<\/a> the app 4.5\/5, with comments including\u00a0“never felt [so] rested”<\/a> and “helping me.. improve my quality of life”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Another piece of sleep enhancing technology is the Lumia Bodyclock<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It aims to offer a more gradual, natural feeling method of waking up to an alarm. \u00a0This is achieved by using a light which mimics sunrise by gradually growing brighter, as well as a gentle alarm sound. Here is a user reviewing the product:<\/p>\n