Smartphones to help you get a better
night's sleep: Manufacturers take steps to ensure devices emit less blue light
that can affect shut eye
Smartphone manufacturers are taking steps to make their
products less damaging to sleep after a damning study showed the devices can
stop people dropping off.
As it gets darker in the evening, the body starts to produce
the sleep hormone melatonin.
The research, published in Frontiers in Public Health,
revealed wavelengths of light at the blue-green end of the spectrum, such as
that emitted by mobile phones, can stop melatonin being produced which makes it
harder for users to go to sleep.
Other studies have shown that being exposed to this light at
night is making people take longer to fall asleep, have less deep sleep and be
more tired the next morning.
Since the study was published in October last year, Apple
has announced its new iOS update will include a ‘Night Shift’ mode that ‘may
even help you get a good night’s sleep’
Shut eye: Light emitted by mobile phones, can stop melatonin
being produced which makes it harder for users to go to sleep (file image).
It will use the time and where the user is in the world to
alter the colour of the display to remove blue light in the evenings.
Meanwhile Amazon is introducing its ‘Blue Shade’ to its Fire
tablet range after admitting that devices could affect customers’ sleep.
Some apps, such as f.lux are already available on Android.
The app allows devices to be switched to a ‘sleep-safe’ mode
which makes the screen take on a red-orange hue.
Professor Paul Gringras, who was part of the research, has
welcomed the response.
He said: ‘I’d like to think we’re part of the tipping point.
‘This will have a small impact, but on an unbelievably huge
number of people, by baking it into the devices it will become part of the way
they are used.
‘It’s an incredibly welcome move, it’s fantastic, although
it’s late it is to be applauded and it will become a natural way for people to
use tablets.’
Prof Gringras, who works at the Evelina Children’s Hospital,
in London, has previously criticised manufacturers for ignoring the problem.
He told the BBC news website: ‘I think the industry has
deliberately avoided passing any comment or even acknowledging the evidence and
research until very recently.
‘I think industry has been very worried about affecting
sales and the use of their devices
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