Planning to build own cellphone based sleeptracker project

I'm using Sleeptracker, but I need something to get better data that it provides, and have more flexible work modes.
There are many interesting projects with custom devices based on micro-controllers. I used to solder small electronic devices in past, but now I'm maybe too lazy and just looking for some pragmatic device, that looks and works good. It's fun to make design of own device but there are many ready small computing platforms with suitable features.
I'm thinking about cellphone, or maybe smart-phone, with built in accelerometers and available free software development tools for developers. It needs to have accelerometers and API to get acceleration data from it.

That kind of device has nice features:

• it's programmable so you can put any features you think about
• compact size, good for wrist attachment (ok maybe little too big, but make some trade off)
• built in battery with quite long operating time and possibility of charging
• possibility to use other input devices to get data like camera to get light level, or microphone to catch noises
• builtin gprs or wifi to send data to server
• of course its still cellphone

The biggest problem may be lack of API to needed devices. New devices are more open than in those in past, but some vendors still don't expose access to internal services.

Sleeptracker - gadget for sleep optimizers

In last month I get new gadget- Sleeptracker Pro alarm watch.
Short description how it works from original website:


SLEEPTRACKER® continuously monitors signals from your body that indicate whether you are asleep or awake. Because you wear SLEEPTRACKER® on your wrist like a watch, its internal sensors can detect even the most subtle physical signals from your body. SLEEPTRACKER® finds your best waking moments, so that waking up has never been easier.


Manufacturer created positive buzz amongst community. I have read so many positive reviews that even price tag (about 180$ in US for Pro model) doesn't stopped me out of buying it.

Some remarks about alarm clock features:
- clock with date on quite big display
- one alarm time
- sound and/or vibration alarm (sound and vibration may be too silent for very hard sleepers!)
- back light is nice
- can be worn as casual watch, but can be too bulky for some people

Because it's not normal alarm clock there are additional outcomes:
1) It wakes you in the moment (within set time window) you are better prepared to wake up, so you feel better
It generally "feels" true or it's hard to say without comparing statistics with and without Sleeptracker

2) It is shortening your sleeping time by about 15-30 minutes (it depends on sleep schedule) without negative consequences.
It's strong dependable on sleeping schedule and works best for unoptimized sleep with waking time in the middle of sleep cycle. On the other way every day sleep patterns may vary a little so monitoring device it's catching actual cycles. For me alarm clock sets up between 0 and 40 minutes before usual waking time.

3) It records R.E.M. activity during night, so data can be collected and analyzed to improve sleep habits.
Sleep data can be reviewed on watch or Sleeptracker Pro has USB port to transfer data to computer.




There are important rules I figured out that should be considered before buying that stuff:
- Sleeptracker will not work for you if you don't have enough sleep or have heavy sleep disorders
- alarm sound is silent so get enough of sleep to be ready top wake up in the morning
- it did not worked for my polyphasic sleep schedule (look at get enough sleep point)
- watch is worn on wrist, so if you place your arm under pillow or in other position that could block arm movement, Sleeptracker won't record R.E.M. phase due to lack of movements
- it may won't work for people who don't move their arms at during R.E.M. cycle (it's hard to check but it's possible)
- have I told that you should get enough sleep?

Sleeptracker Pro package contains USB cable, printed manual and little CD with software for windows. Interesting solution is used for connecting USB cable to watch. Cable ends with clip that have 3 springing pins matching connector on the backside of watch. I didn't mentioned the watch is waterproof!.

Sleeptracker software is used for transfer sleep data from watch and tracking that data with a day events like drinking coffee or alcohol, sleeping light and temperature conditions etc. I tried to run that software under WINE on Linux, but USB data transfer did not work.

So I tried to find another solution. I found the PERL script to get data from USB cable on sleeptracker forum. I found two version of script with bugs or unimplemented features so I integrated both to get one better. Instead of desktop software it can store data as text or xml files. The next nice feature of script is export to web version of Sleeptracker software at http://www.sleeptracker.net/. I'm still collecting data so later I report my findings.

Below is mentioned PERL script:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

# This program downloads records from your Sleeptracker Pro
# and displays them as text, xml, or csv
#
# Sleeptracker and Sleeptracker Pro are trademarks of
#
# Innovative Sleep Solutions
# 2870 Peachtree Road #140
# Atlanta, GA 30305
#
# This program is NOT developed or supported by Innovative Sleep Solutions
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
#
# You can purchase your Sleeptracker or Sleeptracker Pro from:
#
# http://www.sleeptracker.com
# http://www.sleeptracker.de
# http://www.sleeptracker.fr
# ... and some other stores
#

# Chagelog:
# --------------
# 09.12.2007: fixed bug in xml output tag
# 10.12.2007: fixed wrong cecksum calculation
# 11.12.2007: added browser output
# 13.12.2007: fixed seconds from DataA
# 14.12.2007: fixex wrong eff.alarm time, when no alert in window
#
#
#


use Device::SerialPort;
use Time::Local;
use strict;


my $browser="firefox"; # which browser to call
my $uploadURL="http://www.sleeptracker.net/import.php"; # which upload URL to call

my $numArgs = $#ARGV + 1;
my $ttyPath="";
my $format="browser"; #set default

if($numArgs > 1){
$format=$ARGV[0];
$ttyPath=$ARGV[1];
} elsif ($numArgs == 1){
$ttyPath=$ARGV[0];
} else {
help();
exit 1;
}

if (not -w $ttyPath) {
print STDERR "Can't access Sleeptracker at device '$ttyPath'\n";
exit 1;
}

print STDERR "Reading Sleeptracker data from $ttyPath\n\n";

my $serial = Device::SerialPort->new("$ttyPath");
$serial->baudrate(2400);
$serial->databits(8);
$serial->purge_all();
$serial->rts_active(0);
$serial->dtr_active(1);
# Send request
$serial->write("V");
# Wait one second
select(undef, undef, undef, 1);
# Read response
my($count, $data) = $serial->read(250); # goog for more than 70 awake moments

if($count<15){
print STDERR "Error while reading from Sleeptracker!\nWatch showing DATA screen?\n";
exit 1;
}

my @stBytes=();
my $cnt=0;
my $crc=0;
foreach my $byu (split (//, $data)) {
$cnt++;
# for debug
#printf "%03d: %02x = %d \n",$cnt,ord($byu),ord($byu);
push @stBytes,ord($byu);
if($cnt>1 && $cnt<$count-1){
$crc+=ord($byu);
}
}
#printf "%x=%d\n\n",$crc,$crc;
$crc=$crc%256;

# compare checksum
if($crc!=$stBytes[$count-2]){
print STDERR "Checksum Error while reading. $crc!=$stBytes[$count-2]";
exit 1;
}


# calculations and data formating

my $pos=1;

my (undef,undef,undef,$mday,$mon,$year,undef,undef,undef)=localtime();
my $jahr=$year+1900;
my $monat=$mon+1;
my $tag=$mday;

my $stTag=$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $stMonat=$stBytes[$pos+0];
my $stJahr=$jahr;

if($stMonat>$monat || ($stMonat==$monat && $stTag>$tag) ){
$stJahr=$jahr-1;
}

my $datum = sprintf "%02d.%02d.%4d",$stTag,$stMonat,$stJahr;
$pos+=2;

#$unknown=$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my $window = sprintf "%2d",$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my $toBed= sprintf "%02d:%02d",$stBytes[$pos+0],$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $toBedTS = timelocal(0,$stBytes[$pos+1],$stBytes[$pos],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
$pos+=2;

my $alarm =sprintf "%02d:%02d",$stBytes[$pos],$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $alarmTS=timelocal(0,$stBytes[$pos+1],$stBytes[$pos],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
$pos+=2;

my $cntData=$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my @almostAwake=();
my @almostAwakePst=();

my $lastAwake=$toBedTS;
my $thisAwake=$lastAwake;
my $alltimes="";
for(my $i=0;$i<$cntData;$i++){
my $aaw=sprintf "%02d:%02d:%02d", $stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+2];
my $aawShort=sprintf "%02d:%02d", $stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1];
$alltimes.=$aawShort.",";
push @almostAwake,$aaw;
$thisAwake = timelocal($stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+2],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
if($thisAwake<$lastAwake){
$thisAwake+=(24*60*60); # day has changed
}
my $slept=sprintf "%d",($thisAwake-$lastAwake)/60;
$lastAwake=$thisAwake;
push @almostAwakePst, $slept; #period sleeping time in sec
}
$pos+=($cntData*3);

if($thisAwake<$toBedTS){
$thisAwake+=(24*60*60); # day has changed
}

my $getUp=$almostAwake[@almostAwake-1];

# when the last awake moment was outside the window, the alert goes off at alarm time
if($lastAwake<$alarmTS-$window){
$getUp="$alarm:00";
}

my $dataAVal=($stBytes[$pos+1]*0xff)+$stBytes[$pos];
my $dataASec=$dataAVal%60;
#my $dataA=sprintf "%d:%2d",(($dataAVal-$dataASec)/60),$dataASec ;
#my $dataACalc=sprintf "%d:%2d",(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)/60,(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)%60;
my $dataA=sprintf "%d:%02d",(($dataAVal-$dataASec)/60),$dataASec ;
my $dataACalc=sprintf "%d:%02d",(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)/60,(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)%60;


# output Browser
if($format eq "browser"){
my $URLParam=sprintf "a=%s&w=%s&t=%s&dt=%s&da=%s",$alarm,$window,$toBed,$alltimes,$dataA;
my $callFirefox=sprintf "%s \"%s?%s\" &",$browser,$uploadURL,$URLParam;
print "\n";
print $callFirefox;
print "\n";
my $ret=system($callFirefox);
}

# output Text
if($format eq "text"){
print "Date: $datum\n";
print "To Bed: $toBed\n";
print "Alarm Time: $alarm\n";
printf "Effective Alarm Time: %s\n",$getUp;
print "Window: $window min\n";
print "Data A (Clock): $dataA min\n";
print "Data A (Calculated): $dataACalc min\n\n";

print "Awake moments ($cntData): \n";

my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf " Data %2d: %s (slept: %3d min)\n",$aawCnt+1,$awm,$almostAwakePst[$aawCnt];
$aawCnt++;
}
print "\n";
}

# output CSV
if($format eq "csv"){
printf "%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s",$datum,$toBed,$alarm,$getUp,$window,$dataA,$dataACalc,$cntData;
my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf ";%s",$awm;
$aawCnt++;
}
print ";\n";
}

# output XML
if($format eq "xml"){
print "\n";
print " $toBed\n";
print " $alarm\n";
printf " %s\n",$getUp;
print " $window\n";
print " $dataA\n";
print " \n";

my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf " %s\n",$aawCnt+1,$awm,$almostAwakePst[$aawCnt];
$aawCnt++;
}
print " \n";
print "\n";
}



sub help {
print STDERR "Usage: sleeptracker [format] device\n";
print STDERR "format: browser(default), text, csv, xml\n";
}


Digitize your life

Everyday I try to organize my life using mix of paper and electronic means. Sometimes workflow between different areas is seamless, but in most cases I finish up with nothing more that little scrap of papers and information bits. All data is scattered across dispersed information islands. I have to be very fast to visit them all.

Have you heard about MyLifeBits project? It's based on an MEMEX idea of ubiquitous personal information storage. It may include pictures of what you are seeing, sound you are hearing, coordinates of your current position, trail for your electronic activity like emails, phone logs etc. All data is interconnected, tagged and ready for text searching. It's compelling idea but more important are practical applications. The whole stored information may be used as a kind of human memory extension. For successful usage I think it's needed to invent more powerful tools helping seamlessly storing and automatically retrieving important for as bits of information.

Drawing of Bush's theoretical Memex machine (Life Magazine, November 19, 1945),
picture posted by p373
Some rights reserved.

I need now only small part of that information, and probably make simple home brew personal information workflow system using pack of separate gadgets like cellphone with camera with GPS and some software. What is it for? I'm not sure yet, but maybe it's worth to try something like that to use it in future. And again another question - what today information will be worth in future after next 10 years?

I'm going back to figure out how to connect online calendar software with one on my cellphone.

Smartphones are much more than phones - looking for perfect one

Photo author: jurvetson

I used to carry together 2 mobile devices. It was Palm handheld and my cellphone. Those devices are quite old now so I'm looking for new alternative. Year 2007 was good for smartphones and other mobile devices. So there are even multiple options.
Are new smartphones functionally feasible to buy one device instead of cool handheld computer and tiny, elegant cell phone? Most solutions used few years ago were just 2 devices (handheld ,cell phone module) crammed in one case. Did we get increased interoperability and synergy of connected devices? No. The biggest positive was and still is ability to carry one device in pocket instead of two.

So maybe the big winner iPhone? I have specific needs for using custom software on smartphone platform. My perfect feature set contains:
- handheld that can use Linux or even better has established good Linux environment and community (easy hacking, lots of software)
- standard cellphone functions
- GPS or other location service (oh common - they are making even watches with GPS to track you kids)
- WiFi
- external memory card
- big touch screen
- bluetooth or other standard to connect other devices
- build in thumb keyboard or connected external one
- not so needed but it's ok to have lo-res camera

So iPhone is out of interest- it's too closed. Lets look at mix of existing Linux devices at wired blog. So there are many players pushing innovation forward. From typical cell phone producers the most interesting are Motorola running on Linux (open ezx community site), Nokia Linux based (N800 tablet) and new Symbian devices like N95 (it's too closed but it's interesting direction), some Samsung and HTC Windows CE/Mobile handhelds (there is still room for custom software, even another OS). A lot of options- nothing ideal like in real life.

Its good idea to create integrated and standardized platform with mobile features accessible to 3rd part applications like address book, SMS/MMS, call initiating, CLIR, , GPS or other location service, and of course network/internet connection. There is one interesting project called OpenMoko.
"OpenMoko is an Open Source project to create the world's first free mobile phone operating system. "- we can read at the project wiki page. I have have seen few similar projects but this one is really successful. It's outcome is good integrated platform, developer environment and mass produced cellphone FIC NEO1973. Currently produced form factor looks like typical cellphone with nice 2.8" 480x640 touchscreen. It's my favorite for now. For serious typing work it needs bluetooth keyboard. I'm looking forward for typical pocket pc form factor.

Device size is another feature important for buyers. The newest cell phones fit easily into pocket. Most cool smartphones are big- readable screen or usable keyboard takes much place. Have you seen people seeing others calling with bulky smartphones and asking: "Why are you listening to that calculator?" or "Are you trying to hit yourself in a head with that brick?". But there are other choices. Maybe internet tablets are not so bad - excellent for browsing or another tasks using bigger screen and keyboard. If you use wireless headset for calling- it seems still comfortable.

And now about the news. Last week I reviewed materials about Android platform published by Open Handset Alliance (Google is one of the biggest affiliates). It's good defined and integrated platform. It has opened API to all hardware functions (with security policies). Application layer is established on the top of custom Java ME virtual machine. There is no physical devices so it's still ... virtual. Hardware for platform is planned for production at year 2008. I hope that it will have usable features and enough performance.

We have a lot of promising new products now. Probably year 2008 will bring something new and even better. So maybe I will procrastinate a little more with buying new smartphone till next year.