Amazon Developing Sleep Tracking Device With Alexa Tech

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Jan 07, 2021 10:07 AM EST

An Alexa-powered device tracking and detecting sleep apnea is reportedly being developed by retail giant Amazon.

The said device will mainly use millimeter-wave radar to monitor sleeping and breathing patterns of users, according to a Breitbart News report.

In addition, this will also detect subtle changes in their movements that could be the result of stopages of breathing associated with sleep apnea.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the project has been named "Brahms," which likely refers to Johannes Brahms, who is a German composer who wrote "Lullaby." He was also suspected to suffer from sleep apnea at the time.

One of the features of this new sleep-tracking device will be connecting it to other devices and receiving notifications through a separate app.

However, the idea o using radar to monitor sleep is not new and at least one other high-profile company has tried to commercialize the feature.

In 2014, Nintendo announced a non-wearable device that could track sleep through radio waves, according to The Verge report.

However, less than two years later Nintendo said that it was not confident that the device could become a possible product. Hence, it was not released to the market.

OnePlus also announced a new concept phone last month that used mmWave radar to monitor breathing.

Reports said that Amazon plans to use its machine-learning and cloud technology to understand other sleeping disorders beyond sleep apnea.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Amazon was asked to comment on the new reported sleeping device, in which the spokesperson replied that the company does not comment on rumors and speculation.

Amazon has reportedly grown its team in charge of developing the sleep-tracking device over the past year. It has also increased its scope to bring the application and cloud-development services in-house instead of depending on external teams within Amazon.

Amazon has also reportedly expanded its team in Mumbai, hiring a number of software and infrastructure developer in India.

Amazon's Fitness Devices

Amazon has released last year its Halo fitness tracker that scans the wearer's body and voice and is designed to help improve one's health.

Amazon's Halo has cut off $25 to its usual price of $100. However, to get all the features that Halo offers, you will need a subscription.

At first, you will get six months for free with purchase. After the, six months' time-frame, you will need to pay its $3.99 per month if you want to continue.

If subscription is not in your options, Halo will still work to track sleep, heart rate, and step tracking.

One review from The New York Times said that they felt body-shamed and confused by the Halo data that was sent to them for review.

Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, a professor of nutrition and food studies at George Mason University and founder of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, then reviewed the results.

"Unless you were a couch potato and ate a very poor diet, I have my doubts about the Halo's diagnosis," Cheskin was quoted on the report.

The company stressed that Halo is not a medical device. Amazon has also launched a Pharmacy service for delivering prescription medication.