Developers in the US have come up with a new wireless device that keeps snoring in check while also offering health benefits.
Start-up company Smart Nora has found a solution to combat the sound of snoring with "Nora", a wireless device that automates the nudging process without having to disturb people.
The company's co-founder Behrouz Hariri explains how the idea of such a device emerged from his mind.
"Often a very small movement or a very gentle push will stop the snoring. The problem is that it is very likely that after a few minutes they will start snoring again and nobody has the patience to continuously overnight just nudge or push their partner very gently to stop their snoring."
Nora's job is to listen for snores and give a nudge before either the snorer or the partner wakes up.
It activates a pump that inflates a mat underneath the pillow when it gets loud enough. The process stimulates the airway muscles and quiets down the snorning.
Hariri says this method guarantees a better quality of sleep.
"Nora is actually listening for volumes of snoring that are below the sensitivity of their partner. So just before snoring is getting loud enough to wake them up, Nora does the gently push or the gentle movement of the pillow and that, in turn, reduces the volume of snoring then both partners can actually have continuous sleep."
Nora could also have health implications.
It stops snoring and therefore reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, depression and diabetes.
Hariri says Nora is working well in terms of the results of their trial runs.
"We have made a limited number of prototypes to test on different users and taking it back from someone after a week or two of sleeping is not an easy task. "
The developers are in a fundraising campaign where they have raised nearly 375-thousand US dollars to date.
