Evie Summers
Sleep Shepherd is a sleep-tracking device that was invented by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado, after his daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy. The device is a headband that helps people sleep and tracks their brain waves through an app. It uses binaural beats, or sound illusions, to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. While the product initially raised $830,000 through crowdfunding and was set to be sold in retail stores, it appears that the company may have gone out of business, as there is no longer a response to support emails or an active website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor | Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado |
| Reason for invention | Larson's daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy |
| Function | Sleep tracker and optimizer |
| Working | Uses binaural beats to help the user fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer |
| Working | Directly influences brain rate to enhance the sleeping cycle |
| Working | The forehead sensor on the headband measures the rate of a person's brain activity and sends the information to the associated smartphone app |
| Funding | Raised $830,000 through crowdfunding |
| Current status | The company seems to be out of business |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep Shepherd's invention and purpose
The Sleep Shepherd is a sleep-tracking device invented by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado. Larson was inspired to create the device after his daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy. The Sleep Shepherd is designed as a headband that helps people sleep and tracks their brain waves through an app. It uses binaural beats, or sound illusions created by piping slightly different tones into each ear, to slow down brain waves and help the wearer fall asleep. The smartphone app associated with the headband provides access to an alarm feature, which plays the beats in reverse to ease the user out of a deep sleep. This allows the user to wake up feeling refreshed, rather than being jolted awake by an alarm.
The Sleep Shepherd was successfully developed in 2015 and raised $830,000 through crowdfunding. It was also set to be sold in retail stores. The device was designed to be lightweight, breathable, non-intrusive, and comfortable. It requires zero setup, making it easy to travel with. In addition to tracking sleep, the Sleep Shepherd allows users to collect a significant amount of sleep data, including brain wave monitoring and head orientation tracking. This data can provide valuable insights to help users make better decisions throughout the day.
The Sleep Shepherd is unique in its ability to directly influence brain rate, enhancing the user's sleeping cycle. By regulating brain waves, it helps users fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and have more energy during the day. Studies have shown that 4 out of 5 people sleep better with the Sleep Shepherd. However, some users have reported that the headband can be uncomfortable, causing head sweats, and that the binaural beats are not effective for everyone.
Despite its promising features and successful crowdfunding campaign, there are indications that the company behind Sleep Shepherd may have faced challenges. Some users have mentioned issues with the app, suggesting that the company might have gone out of business. As of 2019, users reported difficulties in contacting the company and purchasing the product. It is unclear whether the Sleep Shepherd is still actively available in the market.
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The technology behind it
Sleep Shepherd is a headband that helps people sleep and tracks their brain waves through an app. The technology behind it involves the use of specially-engineered binaural beats, or sound illusions, that are created by piping slightly different tones into each ear. These beats help to slow down brain waves, engaging the brain to follow the beats and ultimately aiding in falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer. The device features an EEG sensor that monitors brain waves while sleeping and transmits this data to a smartphone app. The app also includes an alarm feature that plays the beats in reverse, easing the user out of deep sleep and helping them wake up feeling more refreshed.
The Sleep Shepherd was invented by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado. Larson's inspiration came from his daughter's struggle with narcolepsy, which led him to join the Sleep Research Society and deepen his understanding of the brain's role in sleep. He recognised the need for a non-pharmaceutical solution and set out to create a device that would help the brain slow down and enhance sleep quality.
The Sleep Shepherd Blue is an upgraded version of the original device, featuring Bluetooth functionality. This allows users to track their sleep habits in detail, including brain wave data, motion events, and time spent in different sleeping positions. The headband is designed with lightweight, breathable fabric for comfort during sleep.
While the Sleep Shepherd has received positive reviews for its innovative features, some users have mentioned challenges with the headband's comfort and the effectiveness of the binaural beats. The company also faced challenges, with reports suggesting it went out of business, impacting customer support and the accessibility of the product and associated app.
Despite these setbacks, the Sleep Shepherd represented a unique approach to sleep optimisation and tracking, utilising binaural beats and brain wave monitoring to enhance sleep quality and provide valuable sleep insights for users.
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Its effectiveness
Sleep Shepherd is a sleep optimizer and tracker that uses a headband or cap with built-in sensors and speakers to monitor and influence brain waves, with the aim of improving sleep quality. It is designed to be comfortable and easy to use, requiring no setup, and can be used while travelling.
The Sleep Shepherd uses binaural beats, playing two different tones into each ear to create a humming sound. This auditory illusion is designed to slow down brainwave activity and guide the wearer to sleep. The device also features a smart alarm that gradually raises the user's brain rate to wake them up gently, aiming to leave them feeling refreshed and energised.
The effectiveness of Sleep Shepherd has been supported by studies and user testimonials. According to the Sleep Shepherd website, studies show that 4 out of 5 people sleep better with the device and that the longer one uses it, the more their quality of sleep increases. On average, those who slept better experienced a 50% improvement in their sleep quality.
User reviews on Reddit provide mixed feedback. Some users have praised Sleep Shepherd for its effectiveness in improving their sleep, while others have found that it did not significantly improve their sleep or had issues with the product. One user mentioned that they experienced strange dreams while using the device.
In addition to its sleep-enhancing capabilities, Sleep Shepherd also functions as a sleep tracker. It collects data on sleep positions, cycles, and overall quality. This data can be accessed through an accompanying app, allowing users to gain insights into their sleep patterns and make informed decisions to improve their sleep hygiene.
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Customer experience
Sleep Shepherd was a sleep optimization and tracking device designed to help people sleep better and have more energy during the day. It was unique in that it was the only sleep tracker that directly influenced brain rate to enhance the user's sleep cycle. The device was invented by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado, after his daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy.
Sleep Shepherd took the form of a headband or a home sleep hat that monitored brainwaves and helped the user fall asleep quickly through the use of specially-engineered binaural beats, or sound illusions created by piping slightly different tones into each ear. The beats created the illusion of a sound moving from left to right, engaging the brain and slowing down brain waves to help the user fall asleep. The device also featured an EEG sensor to monitor brain waves and transmit the data to a smartphone app, allowing users to track their sleep habits, including brain wave data, motion events, and time spent in different sleeping positions.
While some customers found the headband uncomfortable and reported that the binaural beats did not work for them, others found the product effective and appreciated the associated app's alarm feature, which played the beats in reverse to gently wake the user. However, it appears that the company behind Sleep Shepherd may have gone out of business, as customers have reported an inability to contact customer support and a lack of product availability.
As a result, customers who had purchased the product faced issues with the app's functionality and concerns about losing access to their sleep data. This experience highlights the risks associated with investing in emerging sleep technology, as companies in this field may face a higher likelihood of going out of business, leaving customers with unsupported products.
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The company's current status
Sleep Shepherd is a sleep tracker that uses binaural beats to help users fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The product was developed by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado, after his daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy. Sleep Shepherd raised $830,000 through crowdfunding and was sold in retail stores.
However, as of 2019, several users have reported that the company might be out of business. There have been reports of no response to support emails, the product not being available for sale, and the app not functioning correctly. It appears that Sleep Shepherd is no longer active in the market, and the current status of the company is uncertain.
The Sleep Shepherd was a headband that used binaural beats to slow down brain waves and aid sleep. It also featured an EEG sensor to monitor brain waves and transmit the data to a smartphone app. The app provided an alarm feature that played the beats in reverse to gently wake the user up.
While the Sleep Shepherd showed promise in helping people improve their sleep, the company's apparent disappearance has left users unable to access support or purchase replacement parts. It is unclear if the company will resume operations or if there are any plans for a similar product to be introduced in the market.
As of now, it seems that Sleep Shepherd is no longer operational, and users seeking similar sleep-tracking solutions will have to explore alternative options available in the market.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep Shepherd is a sleep-tracking device that helps people sleep and tracks their brain waves through an app.
Sleep Shepherd was invented by Michael Larson, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado.
Sleep Shepherd was invented after Larson's daughter, Jessica, was diagnosed with narcolepsy. Larson wanted to find a non-pharmaceutical solution to help people sleep better.
Sleep Shepherd uses binaural beats, or sound illusions, to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The beats create the illusion of a sound moving from left to right, which engages the brain and slows down brain waves.
As of 2019, it appears that the company might be out of business. Users have reported that the product is no longer for sale, the app is not working correctly, and the company is not responding to support emails.
