A company called Fatigue Science is working on a one-trick wearable. Instead of counting things like steps, distance and calories, the company’s Readiband measures how we sleep, promising to deliver 93% of the accuracy of a hospital sleep lab.
Inside the water- and pressure-resistant wrist-worn device there’s a 3D accelerometer that tracks movement, impact, velocity, speed and frequency, as well as a battery that lasts 60 days between charges. The secret sauce is in a special biomathematical model developed by the U.S. Military that analyzes the sleep data captured by the band.
Fatigue Science has already managed to book several top-level clients, including the Seattle Seahawks, the Seattle Mariners, the New York Giants and the Dallas Mavericks, who have their players wearing the Readiband at night.This level of accuracy isn’t made for regular users, but there are certain groups that could benefit from every extra detail they could get. These would include professional athletes who are required to be in top physical condition, and for whom the quality of sleep can literally be a game changer on the field.
And Fatigue Science has already managed to book several top-level clients, including the Seattle Seahawks, the Seattle Mariners, the New York Giants and the Dallas Mavericks, who have their players wearing the Readiband at night.
The company also offers Team Platform, a dashboard that aggregates data collected from all players wearing the band, allowing coaches to make informed decisions about training and scheduling to make sure athletes are fully rested at game time.
“If the Seahawks, for example, have to cross multiple time zones to go play in New York on Sunday night, they need to be able to plan in advance the right amount of sleep for their players so at game time they’re playing their best,” says Fatigue Science CEO Sean Kerklaan.
Fatigue Science has also found a common ground with construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar to prevent employees from operating heavy machinery when they’re sleep deprived.Beyond professional sports, Fatigue Science has also found a common ground with construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar to prevent employees from operating heavy machinery when they’re sleep deprived.
Going forward, the company will launch an API to allow third parties to chip-in and expand capabilities of the platform. The inclusion of additional sensors is still not part of the plan, as “none of that is scientifically valid for helping you understand how fatigued you are,” according to Kerklaan.
Last fall, Fatigue Science raised $3 million in seed money from a handful of strategic angels, and they are not rushing to get Series A because the business is cash-flow positive.
[Via: TechCrunch]