The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) have released a September 2022 update to its standard, Definitions and Characteristics for Wearable Sleep Monitors. Originally published in 2016, this updated standard further defines terms and functionality for sleep measuring devices.
The updated standard defines terms for describing sleep states and defines the functionality required in devices measuring sleep behavior. The standard focuses exclusively on consumer wearable sleep monitors and does not address functionality within medical devices.
“Our continued work with CTA and innovative industry stakeholders is meant to inform the development and realization of everyday products—technology that’s meaningful to consumers and can help people get enough of the quality sleep they need,” says John Lopos, NSF CEO, in a release. “Sleep technology has incredible potential to improve consumers’ sleep and their health, and at NSF we’re seeing consumer devices expand across a wide range of uses and settings.”
The 28-page publication includes many definitions, indicators, and alternative definitions of what wearable sleep monitors can track including temporal surrounding a sleep episode, basic features of wakefulness and sleep, and derived terms.
Kerri Haresign, director, technology and standards at CTA, says in a release, “As digital health shifts from novelty to necessity, enhanced standards benefit increased consumer adoption of technology and helps improve health outcomes across the world.”
Illustration 241419195 © Ssstocker | Dreamstime.com