Why track light exposure? 

Sleep is critical to human health. Getting regular, quality sleep is beneficial to our physical and emotional well being.  Poor sleep is a risk factor for a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Wellness consumers have taken note with many now tracking their sleep regularly with wearables, such as an Oura ring or Apple Watch.  

How do you actually improve your sleep?   

Establishing healthy “sleep hygiene” habits, such as maintaining a regular wake and sleep schedule, the light exposure –-or what type of light you experience at what time of day—also plays a critical role determining how well we sleep. While most of us would benefit from “bright days and dark nights,” what we more often experience is the opposite: we are inside buildings during the day, getting much less light than we would outside; at night, we’re exposed to light from electric lamps, fixtures and devices.   

With the SPECK light exposure wearable, it’s now possible to measure precisely how light exposure impacts your sleep and to use this information to make data-driven changes that help you sleep better. For example, you are able to see in your own data how your sleep quality benefits from getting bright light early in the day is harmed by getting too much light at night.”  Your personal data will illustrate the correlation between your particular light exposure and sleep patterns, allowing you to adjust your exposure in ways that correspond with improvements in your sleep.

Tracking light exposure with the SPECK

“While initially designed for researchers studying the impact of light exposure on human health outcomes, the Speck has been redesigned for wellness consumers. The core of the Speck remains a highly accurate spectral measurement system (spectrometer) that has made it popular with researchers, which now in a smaller, lighter and wirelessly rechargeable format. The Speck pairs with our iOS Speck Connect iOS app to provide personalized feedback and recommendations to help you establish light exposure patterns that optimized for you.”