Somnee 2.0, 9 days review
I returned the Elemind (restocking fee + return postage = $40, which seems outrageous for something that didn’t work).
Ordered the Somnee 2.0.
I really want this device to work. I may even need this device to work.
ISSUES
To date my experience with Somnee has included:
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Incomplete/inadequate documentation. They don’t take you through what happens clearly, what happens after synching and processing data, why it does what it does.
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Failure of the company to clearly disclose prior to purchase that one can only use the device for one sleep session + one DriftBack session in a 24 hour period.
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Failure of the company to clearly disclose prior to purchase that the app doesn’t “stitch” together Sleep and DriftBack sessions for a full night’s reporting. One has to end the primary “Sleep session” which ends the data continuity through the night then start a “DriftBack session”, which usually doesn’t work.
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Non intuitive app.
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Defective hardware, firmware, and/or software. Hard to tell which.
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Defective electrodes. Disposable electrodes that one needs to change after three nights use. The problem… the silicone pads attached to the electrode strips fall off, sometimes after a single night.
SOME DETAIL
The company responded to one of inquiries:
When you don’t wear your Somnee headband overnight and have clean, consistent sensor contact, you’ll receive a stim report that breaks down how effective your 15-minute neurostimulation was in preparing your mind for more restorative rest."
Actually, you get this report after every night until the app and the cloud process your sleep data a process which can take hours (see screen shot on the left)
SCREEN SHOTS
OK, except, I can find no information about what the numbers for the following measures actually mean (see screen shot 2nd from left):
- Sleep readiness
- Sleep onset
- Estimated maintenance
- Estimated depth
None of the above specifically defined on their website or in the scant accompanying documentation.
Apparently these represent %s.
How does the value of ”38”, in the left screen shot above, relate to what the graphic shows? Pre Stim on the right Post Stim on the left, what does this mean?
TIME TO SLEEP
Far more concerning, 2 mornings ago after synching the headband and waiting over an hour, the sleep data (see the screen shot 3rd from the left) tells me that I fell asleep in 0m.
Simply not true. Prior to sleeping one goes through a 15 minute stimulation. During the stimulation I read. Following the stimulation, I had to remove my AirPods (which I need to use so I don’t keep my wife awake with the music that plays during the synch), plugged in my phone to charge overnight, put in ear plugs, got up go the bathroom, got back into bed, and put on eye shades to settle into sleep, which did not come quickly.
Something in the device’s monitoring doesn’t comport with reality.
FIRMWARE UPDATES
In 9 days of use the device has prompted me to do 3 firmware updates. This suggests they do things on the fly rather than have deliberate update/release cycles.
It further suggests a company overwhelmed by complaints and user issues.
Bad sign.
MAJOR CONCERNS
I questioned the company as to whether they even have objective beta testers.
The device and everything that supports it don’t appear ready for distribution.
As currently designed the device relies on your subscription model to process and report data and to supply electrodes.
The issues and range of issues I’ve experienced and reported to them lead me to concerns about the viability of their business.
More importantly, I have no tangible evidence that I have benefited at all from the use of the device although I appreciate that this make take more time for the device to incorporate its reading of my unique brain wave patterns (call me skeptical).
Again, I want this device to work.
I’ve provided feedback hoping that in can help the company resolve the issues.
Not ready to give up yet. I think the device holds promise. I just don’t know if this company can get its act together.
I very much respect Mathew Walker. That said, I don’t think he understands what a company needs to do to deliver a properly operating product. I hope he and they can learn.
