[News Terms] What Is 'Sleep Tech' That Gained Attention at CES?

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] At the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition 'CES 2023,' which concluded on the 8th (local time) in Las Vegas, USA, the 'Sleep Tech' sector received significant attention.

Sleep Tech is a term combining sleep and technology, referring to technologies that use artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data to analyze human sleep patterns and help improve sleep quality. As awareness grows that quality of life is directly linked to sleep, the domestic sleep market rapidly expanded from 480 billion won in 2011 to over 3 trillion won in 2021. Various startups have begun developing technologies targeting this market, and visible results are starting to emerge one by one.

The Sleep Tech startup 'A-Sleep' analyzes users' breathing sounds during sleep through AI technology using microphones on electronic devices such as smartphones and smart TVs, adjusting the operation of home appliances according to sleep stages. For example, air purifiers switch to sleep mode, and air conditioners are set to optimal temperatures to aid restful sleep.

'BR Lab' researched the correlation between sleep and heart rate and developed the world's first mattress that maintains an optimized heart rate state for sleep. LG Electronics' in-house startup developed the smart sleep care solution 'Breeze,' which induces deep sleep by playing different frequencies in each ear.

As the number of patients with sleep disorders increases and the resulting economic losses grow, countries around the world are also showing heightened interest in Sleep Tech technologies. According to market research firm Global Market Insights, the global Sleep Tech market is expected to grow to $32.1 billion (approximately 45 trillion won) by 2026.