WIND DOWN
The Analogue Noise Machine
Wind it up to wind down
Bed Time Ritual
Imagine a more relaxed and calm bed-time ritual...
We all deal with stress, anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Lying awake and struggling to sleep can often lead to bed time routines that only make matters worse.
Be Honest
How many times have you taken your phone to bed?
Convincing yourself it will help you relax and fall asleep.
Until you switch from counting the hours you've spent awake to those you have left to sleep.
Back to Basics
It's time to try something different and get back to basics.
No bright screens, lights or jarring distractions.
With Wind Down you can relax into sleep in a more natural way, just a calming sound, akin to the patter of rain lulling you to a blissful sleep.
Insights and Areas of Opportunity
We started with a simple yet open brief:
'To design an object that improves wellbeing or quality of life within the home.'
Through brainstorming, we were able to come up with a wide array of problems we all face at home, from food waste in the kithcen to optimising drying times of laundry.
But one area stood out to us as important and untapped - the bedroom, and more specifically the importance of sleep.
These days (and especially during lockdown) it has become increasingly more difficult to get a good night's sleep.
So we set about to change that.
Our Brief
How can we help people have a more fulfilling relationship with sleep?
Our Target Audience
There is not a single person who would not appreciate better quality of sleep.
Wind Down is intended for everyone to use.
In particular, Wind Down is designed to help younger audiences kick the habit of taking their phones with them to bed [3]. This is because younger people are more likely to take their phones to bed and more likely to suffer from sleep issues as a result [3][8][9].
Electronic blue light has been shown to severely damage sleep quality and duration [3].
A fully mechanical solution that emits zero light is the perfect aid to help people achieve a better relationship with sleep.
Market Research
Upon reviewing products that serve a similar niche on the market, we found many have:
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Light sources, including bright LEDs and night lights.
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Clinical white plastic designs.
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Digital components, thus requiring charging or batteries.
However, the literature is clear in that light actively prevents people from getting to sleep [3]. Hence, we wanted to emphasise the move away from digital technologies in our bed-time routine.
Thus we adopted a completely analogue solution. A more tactile and natural looking product, that would make for a more pleasant overall experience.
Images from:
Roffiee White Noise Machine
RESPeRATE 2breathe Sleep Inducer
Dodow Sleep Aid Device
Otium White Noise Machine
Research
Sleep and Relaxation - The Science
Initial research was concerned with investigating links between deep breathing and sleep. We found that deep breathing:
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Can affect both the physiology and psychology of a person [6].
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Reduces stress and thus eases someone into sleeping [10].
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Relaxation coupled with distraction has a powerful effect in helping someone improve their quality of sleep [1][15].
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There are significant niches in healthcare which would benefit from teaching people deep breathing techniques [5][11][15].
Contrary to popular wisdom, research is showing us that relaxing is actually a conscious decision one must make by practicing deep breathing and practicing mindfulness. Relaxation is not the default natural state of being for many people in modern society [12].
Image 1 from [6]
Image 2 by OpenStax College
A Shift in Direction
Moving from breathing to relaxation
Initial brainstorming sessions were inspired by the '4-7-8' breathing method which espoused deep breathing in a pattern in order to relax and get to sleep quickly. This prompted the team to look at metronomes as a way to time breathing and served as the core function of the product.
After research and surveying the team changed direction. Focus moved from relaxation to generating a calming noise and improving the calming, tactile feel of Wind Down. This was done because:
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A survey of sleep literature pointed out that deep breathing rather than any timing or pattern is key to relaxation so the timing feature was not useful [12]
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Many people do not know how to take deep relaxing breaths and default to shallow chest breathing which is related to the fight-or-flight response. This means that unless taught many users would miss the point [12]
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Surveys sent to friends to more than 50 people showed a clear preference for continuous sounds as opposed to disjointed sounds which would have helped time breathing
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In addition, literature surrounding pink noise pointed out that continuous sounds are effective at mitigating external disturbing sounds [13][14]
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Surveys and research helped the team realise how damaging using screens before bed is to sleep quality and focus on creating a product more suited to be part of a bed-time routine
Pink Noise, Music and Sleep
Following the change in direction, further research was undertaken.
We decided to look at sleep in a wider context. The team was very cognizant of the consequences of poor sleep but underestimated the extent of the far reaching and interlaced factors that may damage our relationship with sleep [17].
We found that poor sleep is an extremely common problem across the global population. In addition, we found that the sound scape of the sleeper is extremely important and can either deter or encourage better sleep [14].
This led us to the topic of pink noise. Pink noise is a steady background hum at a consistent frequency such as the sound of rain or wind. This is juxtaposed to white noise which uses a much more uneven pitch. [16]
Surveys corroborated the research concerning pink noise with individuals showing a clear preference to these types of sounds.
Pink noise is still not fully explored but current studies have shown that it:
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mitigates external disturbances such as a person snoring [16]
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lowers brain activity which promotes deeper sleep [7][14]
Images from [17]
How Do You Sleep?
Surveying the Sleepers
Over the course of our process two key surveys were sent out. Initially to discover people's relationship with sleep, and later to provide guidance for key design decisions.
Although our surveys were sent to a number of sleep related forums, the majority of our respondents were made up of our friends and family. Thus providing a good spread of genders and ages, albeit skewed towards university student age.
The responders for the surveys remained consistent throughout the design process, they were able to comment on consecutive developments as the design progressed.
How do we sleep and could it be improved?
How we can improve our sleep?
Design Process
We looked at everything from plant management to waste management. Early brainstorming and one on one feedback with users (talking with friends and family) inspired us to tackle the worrying trend of people struggling to get to sleep.
The development process begun with the solid belief that the principles of engineering can be used to improve the day to day lives of everyday people in their homes. With the right product and outlook, engineering systems can be developed that improve the relationship of people with sleep.
Development actually began by looking for potential ways to improve all aspects of home living. We came across a lot of interesting ideas and problems.
Declining sleep health hurts both society and individuals. It increases the risk of getting into accidents [17]
It has a psychological and mental tool on individuals and their health .
It even decreases the quality of our relationships.
Further development and brainstorming led us to conclude that the best way to help would be to get people to relax [7].
Early concepts were spurred by advice used by therapists to help insomnia patients get to sleep such as deep breathing, meditation and abstaining from any sort of blue light screen [3].
In addition, surveys showed a lot of promise in the idea of calming sounds such as white noise or the sound of rain.
A notable point of interest was creating some sort of alternative to taking your phone to the bed which interferes with sleep. An analogue design was propsed which would be wound up mechanically and then play a calming tune and would have a pleasing kinematic aesthetic.
The effectiveness of the product depends heavily on the user associating the winding up action with getting to bed and replacing a very stimulating smart phone with the more calming motion of Wind Down.
Sound Tests
An assortment of materials - ceramic beads, rice, chickpeas and lentils - were used in a variety of containers as pictured to produce a variety of sounds. From all the sound produced, the twelve most pleasing - which can be heard below - were selected and reviewed to influence the type of sound to be produced by our product.
From the sound profiles produced from these initial tests, it was decided through surveys that a rolling motion of the sound making cylinder as well as round wooden beads - (as approximated by the chickpeas) would make for the most pleasurable auditory experience.
Additionally, it was found that the metal glass or plastic were not particularly pleasant, thus given its historical usage in instruments as well as metronomes, wood was considered for the cylinder material. Unfortunately a wooden cylinder was not as easy to acquire, hence it's exclusion from the initial tests. To provide a sound profile for this material, a hollow cuboid was constructed to provide an approximate sound, albeit less smooth.
Design Process for Functional Prototypes
A small gearbox transmits energy stored in a 'clock spring'. A key and ratchet wind up the spring.
Prototype 1: The metronome's bell is reused and mounted, off-centre, onto the output shaft of the gearbox. An object drags against the surface of the bell - a gentle ringing.
Prototype 2: Informed by sound tests, a horizontal cylinder with small particles in is rotated slowly.
An existing, fully analogue, wind-up, movement and noise generating device? The metronome.
Manufacturing a prototype from scratch would have been expensive and logistically challenging without access to a workshop.
Can the oscillatory ticking be adapted into a soothing continuous noise?
Prototyping conclusions:
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A small clock spring provides plenty of torque to rotate objects and cylinders with considerable rotational inertia.
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Cylinder spins too fast, but lowering gear ratio would results in shorter run times.
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Use a clock spring with a lower spring constant to more appropriately match the low friction mechanism and achieve slower spinning for a long time.
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Approximate dimensions of the mechanism to inform the aesthetic design: 4cm x 6cm x 6cm
Aesthetic Design
Although our designs cover a wide array of visual themes, they all share a common theme: products that are tactile; they all have an interactive element.
By making designs that are meant to be played with, you can easily connect with them and are more likely to spend time messing around with them.
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The Analogue Noise Machine
WIND DOWN
References
[1] Kuula, L., Halonen, R., Kajanto, K. et al. The Effects of Presleep Slow Breathing and Music Listening on Polysomnographic Sleep Measures – a pilot trial. Sci Rep 10, 7427 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64218-7
[2] Zhou J, Liu D, Li X, Ma J, Zhang J, Fang J. Pink noise: effect on complexity synchronization of brain activity and sleep consolidation. J Theor Biol. 2012 Aug 7;306:68-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.04.006. Epub 2012 Apr 25. PMID: 22726808.
[3] National Sleep Foundation. How Screen Time May Cause Insomnia in Teens. (2020, December 08). Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep/screen-time-and-insomnia-for-teens
[4] Hale L, Kirschen GW, LeBourgeois MK, et al. Youth Screen Media Habits and Sleep: Sleep-Friendly Screen Behavior Recommendations for Clinicians, Educators, and Parents. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018;27(2):229-245. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.014
[5] Nasari M, Ghezeljeh TN, Haghani H. Effects of nature sounds on sleep quality among patients hospitalized in coronary care units: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Nurs Midwifery Stud [serial online] 2018 [cited 2020 Dec 10];7:18-23. Available from:
https://www.nmsjournal.com/text.asp?2018/7/1/18/224554
[6] Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL. Mind-body medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J Am Board Fam Pract. 2003 Mar-Apr;16(2):131-47. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.16.2.131. PMID: 12665179.
[7] Nanthakwang, Nitayapa & Siviroj, Penprapa & Matanasarawoot, Anuchart & Sapbamrer, Ratana & Lerttrakarnnon, Peerasak & Awiphan, Ratanaporn. (2020). Effectiveness of Deep Breathing and Body Scan Meditation Combined with Music to Improve Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Older Adults. The Open Public Health Journal. 13. 232-239. 10.2174/1874944502013010232.
[8] Basner, Mathias. “Is time for sleep declining among Americans?.” Sleep vol. 33,1 (2010): 13-4. doi:10.1093/sleep/33.1.13
[9] Léger D, Poursain B, Neubauer D, Uchiyama M. An international survey of sleeping problems in the general population. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 Jan;24(1):307-17. doi: 10.1185/030079907x253771. PMID: 18070379.
[10] Perciavalle, Valentina & Blandini, Marta & Fecarotta, Paola & Buscemi, Andrea & Di Corrado, Donatella & Bertolo, Luana & Fichera, Fulvia & Coco, Marinella. (2017). The role of deep breathing on stress. Neurological Sciences. 38. 451-458. 10.1007/s10072-016-2790-8.
[11] Kalmbach DA, Cuamatzi-Castelan AS, Tonnu CV, Tran KM, Anderson JR, Roth T, Drake CL. Hyperarousal and sleep reactivity in insomnia: current insights. Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:193-201. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S138823
[12] Breathing above the brain stem: volitional control and attentional modulation in humans. Jose L. Herrero, Simon Khuvis, Erin Yeagle, Moran Cerf, and Ashesh D. Mehta. Journal of Neurophysiology 2018 119:1, 145-159
[13] Debellemaniere E, Chambon S, Pinaud C, Thorey V, Dehaene D, Léger D, Chennaoui M, Arnal PJ and Galtier MN (2018) Performance of an Ambulatory Dry-EEG Device for Auditory Closed-Loop Stimulation of Sleep Slow Oscillations in the Home Environment. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 12:88. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00088
[14] Pathak, N. (2020, September 16). Pink Noise: Can It Help You Sleep? Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/pink-noise-sleep
[15] Ma, X., Yue, Z. Q., Gong, Z. Q., Zhang, H., Duan, N. Y., Shi, Y. T., Wei, G. X., & Li, Y. F. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 874. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874
[16] P. Szendro, G. Vincze & A. Szasz (2001) BIO-RESPONSE TO WHITE NOISE EXCITATION, Electro- and Magnetobiology, 20:2, 215-229, DOI: 10.1081/JBC-100104145
[17] Grandner M. A. (2017). Sleep, Health, and Society. Sleep medicine clinics, 12(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2016.10.012