I know, I know.  You’ve heard it a million times:  put technology away at night if you hope to have good sleep hygiene.

While it is true that technology can negatively impact your quality of sleep if used in the wrong way, it can also be extremely useful.   Techies all over the world have been working to come up with ways to improve your sleep through electronics, and here are a few of the things they have come up with.

The Rise Alarm app promises to wake you up gently

Looking for a new alarm clock, but don’t want to invest in a whole new gadget?  Well if you have an iPhone, you are in luck.  The super sleek Rise Alarm app is geared to help you wake up better.  With gentle chimes, wind, and birds, the Rise Alarm app’s goal is to get you up on the right side of the bed.  You can purchase it at the Apple App Store for only a few bucks. $2

If you’re willing to invest slightly more in a new alarm, I recommend the Phillips Wake-Up Light.  The Wake-Up Light is designed to mimic the rising sun.  I can certainly attest that my favorite way to wake up is by the sunrise.  If you are regularly waking up before the sun does, the Phillips Wake-Up Light may be the best solution for you.   $100

Are gentle chimes and rising sun not enough to get you out of bed in the morning?  Then I may have just the solution.  Clocky is designed to get you out of bed, literally.  When Clocky goes off in the morning, it just waits for you to hit the snooze button so it can jump off of your night stand and run around the room until you get up and chase after it.  I can tell you from personal experience that this alarm clock is anything but ineffective.  If you are a hard sleeper and a stubborn waker-upper, Clocky may be the perfect alarm for you.  $40

Moving on to some of the more advanced gadgets…

Ever been told that you are a restless sleeper?  Do you toss and turn constantly, snore, or talk in your sleep?  Maybe even all three?  Well, there’s an app for that. The Sleep Talk Recorder tracks the noises you make throughout the night, whether it is a mere snore or an entire conversation.  By filtering out the peripheral noises, Sleep Talk Recorder creates a clear recording of your night time babbling, you can even share it with your friends through one of the app’s many features!  $1

Do you consistently flip your pillow to the cool side each night?  Well, the Chillow may be your

The Chillow will control the temperature of your pillow

best bet.  Once you are ready to fall asleep, activate the Chillow for a handy temperature controlled pillow.  $13

Maybe hypnosis is your thing.  If so, the free Darren Mark Hypnosis app may be the answer to all of your sleep problems.  Guaranteed to give you a deep, zen-filled slumber, this hypnosis app utilizes recordings from British hypnotherapist Darren Mark to guide you to sleep. Free

Sleep cycle alarm clocks are the thing of the future.  By downloading the Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock app, you can rest assured that you will be getting the best night’s sleep for your body.  Using your iPhone’s accelerometer, the Sleep Cycle Alarm clock tracks your sleep schedule while you are sleeping, then wakes you when you are in your lightest sleep phase.  In effect, this alarm clock ensures that you wake up feeling well-rested, with a full night’s sleep to back it up.  $1

Now, for some of the truly weird sleep gadgets…

Have a sleeping partner that is constantly leaving for long business trips?  If that’s the case, the Pillow Talk Pillow may be the best thing to ever hit the market.  A set of two, these wireless pillows can connect the two of you over even the longest distances.  When your partner lies down on the pillow, your pillow lightly glows and vice versa.  In addition, the pillow will track your partner’s heartbeat, sounding it through your own pillow.  While these pillows may not be the real thing, they try very hard to be as close as possible.  Price TBD

Still afraid of the dark?  You can be honest, we don’t judge.  In fact, we may be able to find you the

The Glo Nighlight has glow balls that can be detached from the device

best solution for this phobia.  The Glo Nightlightis a chic, and somewhat odd, looking night light designed to fit

your night light needs.  The “Glowing Balls” can be disconnected from their charging device, and then placed throughout your room to give the dim effect that you are looking for.  While the gadget may not resemble any night light that you had as a child, it is just as effective and significantly cooler. $80

I must confess that I love buying new pajamas, but never have I encountered any like these. The NYX Somnus Sleep Shirt is designed to track your breathing patterns throughout the night using sensor-embedded devices within the shirt.  The data is then process to give you information on your various sleep phases.  Price TBD

With the help of these nifty gadgets, you have a good chance of your sleep improving, although sometimes the best way to fix a problem is the old-fashioned way.  Perhaps you are simply in need of a new mattress or pillow?  At Sleep City, our goal is to get you the best possible night’s sleep, whether that means researching new technologies or finding a mattress to fit your sleep needs.  We are here to help!

Cheers and sleep well.