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Redefining Rest: A Taxonomy of Contemporary Digital Sleep Technologies
Erholung neu definieren: Eine Taxonomie heutiger digitaler Schlaftechnologien
[journal article]
Abstract Digital sleep tracking has become part of everyday life via smartphones with in-built sensors, dedicated sleep tracking software, and a range of peripherals. In a context of mediatised and managed sleep, this paper seeks to schematise the scope of consumer technologies, products, and media taking sh... view more
Digital sleep tracking has become part of everyday life via smartphones with in-built sensors, dedicated sleep tracking software, and a range of peripherals. In a context of mediatised and managed sleep, this paper seeks to schematise the scope of consumer technologies, products, and media taking shape in the sleep industry. We outline a five-part taxonomy of sleep media technology: instrumentalisation of sleep data; augmentation of bedroom material; routinisation of sleep atmosphere; hacking of sleep rhythms; and finally, modulation of neurological states. We argue these technology types amalgamate to position sleep as in-crisis, while concurrently, commodifying this problem with digital "solutions" intervening at different scales, from the brain to body to bedroom to environment. Emerging from marketing and popular media coverage are new norms of "good sleep" and "sleep hygiene," normalising a discussion of "how" (rather than "if") digital technologies can measure, datafy, optimise, automate, and bioengineer sleep.... view less
Keywords
sleep; recreation; mediatization; taxonomy; data; new technology
Classification
Sociology of Science, Sociology of Technology, Research on Science and Technology
Sociology of Knowledge
Free Keywords
self-tracking; sensors; datafication
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 135-156
Journal
Historical Social Research, 48 (2023) 2
Issue topic
Sleep, Knowledge, Technology: Studies of the Sleep Lab, Sleep Tracking and Beyond
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed