RFID Sensors Track Sleep Patterns

In the morning, the user would remove the device and tap it against the Nokia phone. The handset's NFC module would read the card's unique RFID tag ID number, as well as all of the measurement data stored within its memory. That individual could then view the details on the phone's screen, or e-mail it to himself for loading onto his personal computer, or for e-mailing to a health-care provider. What's more, the wearer could answer questions on the application regarding the previous night's sleep, and send along that data as well.

For those looking to improve the quality of their sleep, or "sleep efficiency," the data about the previous night's sleep can be compared with the prior day's activities, diet and stress levels, and the person's behavior can thus be modified accordingly.

Due to the high quantity of data that must be measured, stored and transmitted, the card's lithium battery can operate for up to 45 days at most (after which an additional card would need to be purchased). Although the system will initially work only with Nokia's C7 phone, iMPak is developing a version of application that will operate on Android NFC-enabled phones, such as Samsung's Nexus S model.

iMPak plans to market the SleepTrack system through social-media campaigns, as well as through Nokia's Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds. The application will initially be available only in English. A pilot may be held this summer in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, Elliot says, to test the system among hundreds of participants. "We want to see if people make changes in their routine that improve their sleep," she explains, in addition to determining whether data was shared with users' physicians, and what the results of those efforts were.