As mobile applications reach every single aspect of our waking lives, it was only a matter of time before they invaded our sleep as well. Many already use their mobile phones as alarm clocks. On the iTunes store there are over 100 sleep-based applications within a cohort of 10,000 labelled ‘Healthcare and Fitness’.
US-based startup Lark produces a wristband that works with an iPhone as a buzzing alarm clock. Lark’s wristband vibrates at the set time, waking users gently and allowing partners to sleep in. The device also monitors sleep, registering sleep patterns and provides an online dashboard that analyses the collected data.
Lark founder Julia Hu worked with Harvard sleep specialist Dr. Jo Select to develop and test the device. Designed at the MIT, it has proven to be successful in nudging users. Lark officially launched its product a month ago and despite its moderately high price ($129-$189 for the wristband and an iPhone dock station) it immediately sold out.
Healthcare and Fitness applications are becoming more and more popular as people use the internet to learn more about their bodies and their health. Research by Ernst & Young shows that pharmaceutical investment in smartphone applications and other online tools in 2010 increased 78%, compared with the period of 2006-2009. Another study organised by the mHealth Summit estimates that in 2015 more than 500 million people will use health applications.
At Startup Intelligence, we spot and analyse the most innovative startups in each trending sector. The tag ‘health’ has one of the highest scores in our dashboard (10.00). And the tag ‘ehealth’ is equally high, with a score of 6.4.
If you are interested in the health sector and want to know more about what startups are doing in this area, login to our dashboard. Our next report will delve into the mobile health world. Coming soon.