Smart Beds

“To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s the rub.”

That famous quote from the celebrated “to be, or not to be” speech in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” was written in 1602. Today, in 2015, there is every chance to sleep and to dream because high tech has come into the bedroom; more specifically, into the mattress and into the Kingsdown’s Sleep Smart Sleep System.

And yes, there is an app for it.

According to Frank Hood, president and CEO of Kingsdown, the mattress is designed to monitor movement, understand pain, ease pressure, track sleep patterns and even gently wake a sleeper from a deep sleep.

“This isn’t that unusual because every room in the house is becoming ‘smart’ and that ‘smart’ can be now found in the bedroom,” he explained. “There are sensors that measure the sleeping body to communicate with the sleep system’s control unit to determine the right level of comfort and support. All the while, that unit is working with an app that tracks individual sleep patterns and provides real-time data.

“One more thing: It can also turn off the lights and TV.”

The smart in Sleep Smart stands for Scientific Measurement and Response Technology. Its patented technology understands naturally occurring sleep stages and recognizes the characteristics of the person on the bed. It then makes intuitive and appropriate adjustments for optimal sleep.

Dr. Robert Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute in Joplin, Mo., advises Kingsdown on the impact that sleep environment has on sleep quality.

“Before, a mattress was a passive thing that we lay our body upon and that was as good as it got,” he said. “Now, just by looking at how we’re sleeping, we can learn about our health, measure blood pressure, or change the environment of a room.

“Sensors trigger the mattress bladders to slowly expand or contract to maximize comfort and rest. A built-in data tracker reports on the amount of time slept, the quality of sleep and changes in sleep patterns over time,” he said. “The app is available for both Apple and Android users and allows sleepers to create personal profiles. What we have is the first intuitive bed that actually thinks for you and adjusts itself to optimize your sleep every night.”

Shakespeare would have enjoyed the smart bed.

The “thinking bed” has come about because the bedroom is no longer just a place to sleep. And to take it one step further, hospitals are no longer the only place to find adjustable beds.

As the popularity of mobile devices grows, so does the number of people relaxing and working from bed. Adjustable bed bases are designed with all the latest technologies so that working, reading, watching TV — even getting a massage — is easier from bed. The bed is now the “home office.”

Martin Rawls-Meehan, president and chief executive officer of Reverie, headquartered in Michigan, believes the American consumer is always looking for lifestyle trends that make everyday living more convenient, comfortable and easier. Adjustable bed (or power) bases are one way of today’s latest lifestyle trends hitting the bedding industry.

“Reverie’s Adjustable Power Base is a high-tech adjustable bed base that works with any adjustable friendly mattress and features a number of different technologies,” said Rawls-Meehan. “There is Bluetooth Smart connectivity that allows you to control the bed with your mobile device. There’s a remote stand with USB port and two AC outlets to charge devices, an under-the-bed nightlight, and a patented massage delivery technology for improved circulation.”

The preset memory positions include “zero gravity” that eliminates strain and relieves pain through simulated weightlessness. An “anti-snore” position benefits those sufferers of sleep apnea and snoring.

One more thing: Don’t forget the optional surround-sound speakers.

What makes Reverie a little different from its competition is its DreamCell Mattress Technology that provides customized comfort. DreamCell foam springs come in four firmness levels that can be configured in an almost infinite number of ways to match you and your partner’s specific firmness preference. Firmness levels vary from extra soft (pink), soft (blue), medium (green) and firm (yellow).

“Our mattress can change as you change,” said Rawls-Meehan. “Whether you change from a back to a side sleeper, have an injury or have a life-changing event like pregnancy, your bed changes as you do. Just unzip the mattress and reconfigure the DreamCells. Most people change sleeping preferences over time and our system can adapt with you.”

Rawls-Meehan likes to say that 20 years ago, “a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker was a luxury but today you wouldn’t even consider buying a fridge without one.” He now attributes that quote to be similar to his mattress.

He suggests that a good way to try one is to take a cruise on a Celebrity Cruises ship. Several of the ships include models with tops and bottoms that can be raised or lowered and have adjustable levels of firmness.