[Harumanbo Harucheonja] Why Samsung Electronics Has Recently Fallen into Deep Sleep

"One of the major pillars of Samsung Health's future strategy is sleep functionality."

On May 23, Hon Pak, Executive Director and Head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics' MX Division, explained the strategy and vision of Samsung Electronics' health management solution, Samsung Health. Launched in 2012, Samsung Health is currently used by 64 million people worldwide every month. As awareness of the importance of sleep grows, the number of Galaxy Watch users who measure their sleep at least once a week has nearly doubled compared to last year. Half of all Galaxy Watch users use the sleep function weekly, and among them, 40% consistently use the sleep function at least three times a week to monitor their sleep health.

Animal Types by Sleep Patterns
Photo by Samsung Electronics

When Samsung Health was launched in 2012, it started with simple fitness tracking support. In 2015, considering the importance of sleep, related features were added, and in 2018, the health strategy was reorganized around the Galaxy Watch, which is always worn on the user's wrist. In 2020, various health-related features such as blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) were added, and in 2021, the Galaxy Watch was equipped with a 'BioActive Sensor,' evolving into a more professional digital health platform. In April, the Galaxy Watch5 series introduced a female menstrual cycle prediction feature using the temperature sensor.

Why sleep? Because quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health and is a very important factor connected to overall health. In fact, sleep has an immediate impact on health. For example, while improvements in exercise or diet take a long time to show effects, sleep quality from the previous night directly affects the next day's condition. Especially, if normal sleep is not achieved, it can lead to not only mental and physical fatigue but also decreased concentration, memory decline, depression, and other health issues, as well as everyday accidents such as drowsy driving, causing enormous social costs.

Galaxy Watch's Sleep Tracking Feature
Photo by Samsung Electronics

There is also a way to get a good night's sleep with Samsung Health and Galaxy Watch. First, to develop good sleep habits, you need to accurately understand your sleep patterns. The Galaxy Watch's BioActive Sensor can measure indicators that reveal the user's sleep patterns, such as tossing and turning during sleep, REM sleep duration, and blood oxygen saturation. Additionally, the sleep results analyzed based on various indicators measured while the user sleeps are explained in an easy-to-understand way, allowing users to intuitively check their sleep status.

Once you know your sleep patterns, you should form sleep habits that suit you based on that information. Samsung Electronics offers a sleep coaching program through the Samsung Health app. This coaching program, based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI), summarizes sleep patterns over more than seven days and categorizes the user's sleep status into eight animal types such as lion, penguin, and crocodile. Users can create their own sleep habits by following the customized guidance provided by the coaching program. It also offers tips that help with sound sleep, such as avoiding caffeine six hours before bedtime and getting sunlight in the morning.

Hon Pak, Executive Director and Head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics MX Division, is explaining the strategy and vision of Samsung Electronics' health management solution, 'Samsung Health,' at a press conference on May 23.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Sleep environment factors such as bedroom lighting and temperature are also essential for quality sleep. By using the mode and routine functions of Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Watches, you can set sleep mode synchronization. When sleep mode is activated, notifications are silenced, and the display screen changes to colors that reduce eye strain. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch's Always On Display (AOD) function turns off, brightness is automatically adjusted, and the watch does not activate even if you touch the screen or move your wrist, preventing sleep disturbances. Furthermore, through SmartThings, various devices from Samsung Electronics and partner companies can be connected to optimize the sleep environment. The Galaxy Watch detects the user's bedtime and automatically turns off lights and air conditioners and lowers bedroom blinds, creating an ideal sleep environment.