Everyone sleeps differently, and many people use auditory sleep aids, commonly called white noise. Often, sleep apps lack personalization, which can limit their effectiveness. Integrating personalized features can better address individual sleep needs and improve user satisfaction.
Over the years, the Sleep app within the Health app has received only a few updates. I propose expanding the Sleep app into a standalone app to enhance the user experience significantly.
Currently, iOS has sleep features spread across different apps and system functions. For example, in the Health app, users can access their sleep health data, but are often referred to other sleep apps for additional features that may be beneficial. Integrating these features into a unified, standalone sleep app would improve user engagement by providing a seamless experience that leverages existing iOS capabilities, such as background sounds in the Control Center and meditation options in the Fitness app.
My primary design rationale throughout this is that the tools and components necessary for a comprehensive sleep app are already integrated into iOS; all that is needed is a way to bring them together to create an essential application within the iOS environment.
Many sleep apps today offer a one-size-fits-all experience, lack customization, and deliver repetitive content, which diminishes their effectiveness over time. By developing a dedicated sleep app that offers tailored features and personalized content, it can better meet user needs and encourage adoption, overcoming limitations imposed by paywalls and generic solutions.
Developing a native application that enables users to create personalized sleep experiences based on their unique sleep needs and preferences.
Incorporating sleep aids into existing devices and software for easy access in nightly routines.
Offering a variety of sleep sounds with options for specific narrators and evolving content to prevent habituation and maintain effectiveness.
Many Americans are increasingly interested in tracking and understanding their sleep habits to improve their sleep quality, often using wearable devices or mobile apps. A 2023 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine highlights that over one-third of Americans (35%) have used an electronic sleep-tracking device, showing growing engagement in sleep monitoring. A majority of those who have tried one found the sleep tracker was helpful (77%), and many have changed their behaviour because of what they learned (68%) (Link)
Additionally, a study published in Frontiers in Neurology found that white noise can help people fall asleep 38% faster compared to complete silence, highlighting a simple method to improve sleep onset.
The target audience is young adults (19-35 years) living in major North American cities who primarily use in-ear headphones and are seeking auditory solutions for stress relief and sleep enhancement.