Products and gadgets
Brainwaves' based devices (only the Zeo)
Zeo Personal Sleep Coach
The Zeo 'personal sleep coaches' is an extremely unusual but scientifically competent product that has been sold in the U.S. for about a year. Zeo website. It's almost certainly the best device on the consumer market place that can measure sleep, and has built-in coaching and self-help aids to improve sleep. In the U.S. there is person-to-person coaching program. It could well be used to 'optimise' sleep and help the high performance individual.
Understanding zeo (sleepspecialist's folder leading to Zeo information)
Zeo on Facebook Zeo's site (U.S.) UK site opening soon
Dawn light alarm clocks - SAD lights
Naturebright Sun Touch Plus Light And Ion Therapy Lamp
The biological clock is mainly synchronised to social time by dawn light and these lights can be used to support this process. Best used in the Winter as in the Summer the trick is not to use an eye-mask and possibly sleep with the curtains open (depending on what you need). Can also be used to manage jet-lag.
Jet-lag
Not available in the UK and some other countries except through named person prescriptions (from a medical practitioner) melatonin taken at bedtime can reset the body's biological clock relatively quickly. A more natural method uses light (our body clocks usually run slowly and dawn light speeds the clock up every day) exposure (AND AVOIDANCE) at the right time. The trick is getting the time right. I've written a couple of calculators to help out with this, though both now need updating. The BA jet lag calculator and for Virgin Atlantic via Mental Workout on iPhone (unfortunately the Virgin Atlantic project ran out of money, so the app never went to other platforms nor was finished; however it is functional). Using light to re-synchronise the body clock does need planning - sometimes it's necessary to use a portable artificial SAD light - though often natural light can be used (the principle of how this works can be found both on the Virgin Atlantic app and on my BA podcasts.
Mattresses, pillows, bolsters, etc
Specific advice on sleep can be sought from Nick Littlehale's directly and on his website the Sleep Coach.
Movement-based devices
Apple app Sleep Cycle
SleepTracker Pro Elite Sleep Monitor
SleepTracker Pro Elite Sleep Monitor
Not particularly keen on these accelerometer (movement) based devices. Excellent for identifying chronobiological problems (when your body's biological clock doesn't match society's clock) but not necessarily useful for insomnia. These are 'treatment' devices though some are claimed to help with minimising sleep inertia by helping you wake up at a 'good time'.
Also Wakemate.
Announcements
Presumably accelerometer based - apparently coming out 2012 - a sleep-sensitive t-shirt (Sommus Sleep Shirt).
Most product and book links go to Amazon.
