A design research senior thesis by
Pily Tamara Designer & Researcher Winter 2012
Five weeks of travel with my dad was all it took for me to decide that sleeping next to a snorer was an issue I needed to solve. In order to come up with a design solution, I knew I had to fully understand what snoring is, as well as the current and ideal experience of sleeping next to a snorer.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily Támara | Winter 2012
Overview of the problem Approximately
90 million American adults snore 37 million on a regular basis
First things first: Learning and understanding the origin of the problem. What is snoring? Its causes? And who does it affect? To educate myself on snoring, I read through several medical books, studies, articles, and interviewed a medical doctor specialized in sleep disorders.
In 1993, a snore of almost twothirds the noise level of a Boeing 747 taking off was recorded
– 1993 Guinness Book of Records
93 dBA
– National Sleep Foundation
Snoring affects
Average snoring
46.2 dBA
40% Adult men
20%
Adult women
10% Children
Neighbor disturbance during night time sleep
– World Health Organization
Snoring increases after menopause
2% – 4% suffer from sleep apnea – National Sleep Foundation
“80% sleep apnea. 1.
“
of snoring is a result of
– Dr. Diógenes Algarín, Medical Sleep Doctor
30 - 45 dBA
How loud can it get?
In order to understand how loud snoring is, this graph compares snoring to other relatable sound sources, such as a loud heavy truck or the soothing sound of leaves rustling on the ground (data gathered from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). After conducting thorough secondary research, I learned that the average snoring noise (in decibels) is higher than what the World Health Organization considers to be “neighbor disturbance during night time sleep.�
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2.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily TĂĄmara | Winter 2012
Yes, there is a victim. After gaining a general overview about snoring, its causes, symptoms, and who it affects in the American population, I researched several medical studies that explained the medical disadvantages of sleeping next to a snorer. It turns out that snoring is a condition that not only negatively affects the snorer, but also their sleep partner’s health.
3.
Morning Headaches
Snorers wake up about
27
times
per hour
due to episodes of
sleep apnea.
Spouses of snorers
wake up as often as
21
times
per hour.
– Study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
Morning headaches show a 90-day prevalence of around 60% in habitual snorers as well as in their bed partners. – National Center for Biotechnology Information
Sleep Deprivation
Snoring can take up to two years’ sleep from the victim. – British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association
Relationship Problems
One third of the bed partners reported relationship problems as a result of the snoring. – National Center for Biotechnology Information
Hearing Loss
Victims have noiseinduced hearing loss in the one ear that was most exposed to the snoring. – National Center for Biotechnology Information
4.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily Tรกmara | Winter 2012
Survey Findings Medical reviews confirmed that there are victims. But, what do these victims think and feel about the experience? My first step to a first-hand understanding of the current experience was to send out a survey via e-mail and Facebook. Once the results were gathered, I created a screener for my interviews to make sure I recruited the right people. I also learned through this survey more about what snorers and their partners were doing to try to solve this issue.
5.
53 out of more than 100 randomly selected snoring victims of all ages responded.
Female Spouse
Female spouses ages 21–29 that sleep in the same bed were most affected because the snorer was more likely to fall asleep first.
ZZ
Sleeps On the Side
Women sleep more on their side whereas men sleep more on their back – a common position that contributes to snoring.
Z
Moderate Sleeper
Victims of snoring are woken up 1–2 times a night and are mostly moderate sleepers, while the snorer themselves are largely heavy sleepers.
Bears with It
Most snoring victims just bear with it by turning over because the snorer takes little to no action to stop snoring.
6.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily TĂĄmara | Winter 2012
Blogs & Reviews While my potential users completed the survey, I read through multiple blogs and reviews online to begin to understand what the snoring victims had to say about their experiences. I was amazed to find how they use these sites to safely express their deep-seated negative feelings about their experience sleeping next to a snoring partner.
Secondary Competitors What is the snorer doing about it?
Medication
Z Quiet
Nasal Strips
CPAP Machine
Competition 7.
Through my survey, I realized that my design would have two types of competitors: what the snorer and what their partner are doing about the inconvenience of snoring. I mostly learned about the methods that snorers are currently using to solve or deal with their condition.
However, the reality is that most snorers don’t do anything about it. Learning this led me to find my primary competitors, or what the snorer’s partner is doing about their experience. But because most sleeping partners just bear with the snoring, I decided to explore other existing possible solutions.
Surgery
My husband snores louder than a lawn mower, and I kick him harder than Beckham with a soccer ball. We both slept much better when single. — Caroline
My husband snores like a freight train! It’s so so so annoying, I find myself going from tapping him, to hitting and kicking him in the middle of the night – and usually, he doesn’t even remember me doing it! [...] I have been feeling resentment towards him. — Tanya
Primary Competitors What is the victim doing about it?
Sleep Earplugs
Sleep Noise Cancelling White Noise Headphones Headphones Machines
Sound Domes
“Sometimes I don’t want to block out everything. I still want to be able to hear a smoke alarm or my baby crying.”
“These were really comfortable but every once in a while the little audio cable would get in the way.”
“...only 35 hours of noise cancelling per AAA battery, definitely not for sleeping.”
“Tend to be white noise generators only (no nature sounds) and usually do not feature a clock / alarm.”
“...not a small product and being clear doesn’t make it any less obtrusive.”
“I have recently had to start sleeping with ear plugs and I wake up with my ears throbbing!”
“...doesn’t seal out all sounds...wish they had some active noise cancelling...”
“...definitely can’t sleep in these.”
“...over time these tend to loose their effectiveness.”
“...starting at around $500 these things are expensive!” 8.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily Támara | Winter 2012
The Current Sleeping Experience
Through my secondary research, I was able to gather enough data to prove that sleeping next to a snorer is a real problem. Since the survey helped me find my target audience, my next step was to interview some of these victims in order to empathize with their own personal experiences. Given that I was not able to meet in person with these victims, I decided to conduct five individual interviews through a “shared screen” Skype call. These interviews, with the help of visual stimuli, led me to find patterns that better explained my user’s current barriers.
Frustrating
I get so frustrated for not being allowed to sleep that it makes me want to scream.
Tiring
I’m so tired when I have to wake up because I’m not able to sleep throughout the night.
Lonely
I feel like I’m all alone because I can’t make him stop snoring without having him get angry at me.
The experience is so frustrating and I can’t do anything about it. I feel like time doesn’t pass by, and then I wake up tired. I’m so desperate that I wish I could shoot myself, or the snorer.
10.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily Tรกmara | Winter 2012
The Ideal Sleeping Experience
After asking my interviewees what the ideal experience would be like, a heartwarming deep breath was heard. They all wished they could get a pleasant sleep next to the person they love, allowing them to feel free and liberated from those stressful nights and mornings. I also gained feature-level insights to understand what the snoring victims considered to be comfortable, fresh, and relaxing, which then led me to explore possible design solutions.
Relaxing
I want to have a restful sleep so that I can wake up relaxed, like how you feel after being pampered.
Calming
I want to go to bed and wake up calmed, feeling free from all my problems.
Mutual
Sleeping next to my partner is a shared experience. We should both wake up happy.
Sleeping at ease with that other person. Liberated from my difficulties; feeling free, calmed, and at peace. Wake up happy and in love with my husband. Sleeping should be a mutual experience.
12.
K IET Design Research Senior Thesis by Pily TĂĄmara | Winter 2012
Design
Once all the data was gathered, I analyzed the victim’s desires and aspirations and highlighted the most frequently picked stimuli to understand how the ideal experience of sleeping next to a snorer should feel like. Getting a better sense of this experience helped me find the key features to best deliver an ideal design solution.
insights Breathable
nic ge r le al
An ti-
t
er Temp
atu
re
ds oun
eS
at N
e
R
e
ur
ela
xin
g
erapy ma Th Aro
bl
bl
a
sta
ort
u Adj
Co mf
Ergonom ic
t gh
Fresh
My Ideal Sleeping Aid is...
Sof
13.
Lig ht we i
Getting a good night’s sleep is as special as receiving a really nice gift. It is Comfortable Ergonomic
I want it to be ergonomically designed so it can comfortably fit everyone.
Adjustable
Soft
Breathable
Lightweight
Nature Sounds
Temperature
I want it to be able to adjust to my body so I don’t feel it while I’m sleeping.
Soft materials feel nice and that helps me have a more comfortable sleep.
It is Fresh Anti-allergenic
I want to make sure it won’t trigger my allergies and worsen my sleep.
Materials that do not retain body heat. It must be porous/ breathable.
I want it to be lightweight because I don’t want anything to disturb my sleep.
It is Relaxing Aroma Therapy
Fresh scents relax me, like candles or incense.
I would like to be able to listen to soothing sounds like those of leaves, water, waves, and the wind.
Warm temperatures relax me, just like when I drink a nice cup of tea.
Design
Solution Mobile App
ecords snoring sound waves to activate R noise cancelling technology
onnects to headband wirelessly through C Bluetooth Alarm clock option
White noise and nature sounds option Music option Radio option 15.
Comfortable
Noise Cancelling Headband
Breathable material that does not retain body heat Lightweight and soft material Velcro provides adjustability
eadband gets thicker/“puffier” by the ear area to H provide more comfort
ocket around ear area allows removal of electronics P for headband washing
Fresh
Relaxing
Other design features
Docking Station
ressing lightly on the base pop-opens a Smartphone P stand for when phone is charging (spring operated) Flat surface allows charging of phone and headband ight-up bars reflect charge of left and right side of L the headband
Compact size (5” diameter) allows for easy storage
16.
pilytamara@gmail.com