Sleep tracking not sensetive on memory-foam mattress

[Mike]

Hi,

I've been using another Android app called ElectricSleep, and its graph is much more sensitive to things like my leg movements (the phone is located near my head) than Sleep as Android. Plus, it lets you calibrate the sensitivity threshold, which you can't do with Sleep as Android.

Can you make tracking more precise (maybe increase polling frequency?), and let people adjust the sensitivity manually?

Btw, the source code of ElectricSleep is available: https://github.com/jondwillis/ElectricSleep

[Petr Nalevka]

Hello Michael,

could you please post some of your graph to petr (at) nalevka (dot) com do have a better idea what is going on. 

I believe we don't need to calibration as wee handle the incomming data relatively and build up the sensitivity and thresholds on the fly. The update frequency from your sensors we use is basically the highest recommended for production. One of the reasons why you feel the sensitivity is not sufficient may be high peaks from the time you are awake which dwarf other data during the night. This is basically only a presentational issue and may be coped with for example by setting larger graph trimming in settings->misc. Also you may use delayed tracking to filter initial peaks from the graph.  

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Petr

--
Best regards,

Petr

[Michael Velbaum]

I have only started using the program yesterday, so I will play with some some of the settings and see how it goes. I will post graphs after I play with it for a while.

You are right though, ElectricSleep seems to update the its graph much quicker than Sleep As Android, and the graph's resolution seems finer (you see more small bumps). You can check this yourself. The problem with a memory-foam mattress is that moving only your legs will not register much movement in the area near your head, so obviously the sensors won't pick it up well.  Are there recommended settings for people like me?

[Pamela]

Yes, and I have a lycra foam mattress.  Not much motion really transfers from one area of the mattress to another.  I almost feel that the app is recording the sound made by movement rather than the movement itself.  I also thought about using the little shelf that hooks onto the bed frame (my phone seems to get very hot under my pillow), but with the lycra mattress I don't think there would be much movement discernible on the frame at all.  Pamela

[Petr Nalevka]

Hello Michael,

we do not update the graph as frequently to save battery life, but in the background we collect accelerometer data with a very high frequency. 

There are also options to help the tracking by attaching the phone to your body, such as described here: https://sites.google.com/site/sleepasandroid/accessories-holders

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Petr

--
Best regards,

Petr

[Michael Velbaum]

I see.

By the way, can I put the phone with the screen facing down? Because even though the screen is dimmed, it still bothers me a little bit.

[Petr Nalevka]

Hello Michael,

screen down is absolutely no issue. By the way what is your phone firmware. Most (although not all) of the ICS and greater phones are able to track with screen off. Also some Gingerbread phones do.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Petr

--
Best regards,

Petr

[Michael Velbaum]

I'm using the Sony Xperia X10, which is quite old now. Running Android 2.3.7.

[Petr Nalevka]

Ok, on many phones screen off was introduced with 2.3.5. You may try to go to settings->misc-> and reset screen off detection. Than follow the instructions go to alarm list let the screen dim and leave the phone for several minutes, thank you may visit settings-mics again and see what was detected. 

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Petr

--
Best regards,

Petr