Systems and methods to facilitate sleep are described. In on example, a cognitive alarm clock system for children learns sleep patterns and activities towards recommending sleep schedules and teaching independence. The system may detect the cognitive state of a child based on voice or cry pattern recognition, a time of day or night, scheduled activities, and social context, among other factors. The system may initiate actions to facilitate sleep in response to the cognitive factors. For example, the system may adjust lighting or push back a wakeup time. In another example, the system may use the cognitive analysis to teach children good sleeping habits by making recommendations to facilitate a good night's rest and encourage independence.

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. One or more alarms on the device may be temporarily disabled when sensor data indicates that the user is asleep. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the devicesuch as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the likemay also be used to deduce the user's current activity. User data (such as calendar entries) may also be used to determine likely user activity and set alarms accordingly. Biometric data from a second, nearby person may also be used to automatically select certain alarm modes on a first person's device.

The invention relates generally to an alarm system software which alerts the user by speaking the current time repetitively until the user turns off the alarm or a preset alarm duration is reached. Once the user wakes up from sleep by hearing the current time spoken repeatedly from the alarm clock system, the user will be aware of the current time without having to open the user's eyes to check the time by looking at a watch, clock or mobile phone.

Organic light-emitting diodes as well as luminaires with such organic light-emitting diodes are specified. The luminaires may in particular be the following apparatuses, or the luminaires are part of existing apparatuses: alarm, shower cubicle, shower head, solar protection, rain protection, lamp, bed, signaling light, changing cubicle, vision protection, housing, emergency lighting, mirror, slabs, ceiling lights, radiator cladding, blinds, noise protection, umbrella, warning light.

One aspect of this disclosure relates to presenting a user with a stimulus to elicit user interaction with a task on a computing platform associated with the user. The stimulus may be presented on the computing platform when a set of triggering criteria is satisfied. The stimulus includes a task for the user to complete. The stimulus prompts the user to complete the task. The task includes a set of task criteria for completion. Responsive to the user satisfying the set of task criteria, the user is presented with one or more options to modify the stimulus. The user may be continuously prompted by the stimulus until the set of task criteria is satisfied.

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. One or more alarms on the device may be temporarily disabled when sensor data indicates that the user is asleep. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the devicesuch as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the likemay also be used to deduce the user's current activity. User data (such as calendar entries) may also be used to determine likely user activity and set alarms accordingly. Biometric data from a second, nearby person may also be used to automatically select certain alarm modes on a first person's device.

A tap sensitive alarm clock has a housing (20), a vibration sensor (22) mechanically coupled to the housing for receiving a shock due to a user tapping the housing, and a control circuit (24) coupled to the vibration sensor for controlling a function of the alarm clock. An audio unit (26) is coupled to an audio circuit (25) for generating sound, e.g. a loudspeaker in an alarm clock or a wake up light. To avoid interference of the sound and the vibration sensor, the alarm clock is provided with a filter (23) coupled to the vibration sensor and the control circuit. The filter has a filter curve matched to block frequencies occurring in the sound. Advantageously it is avoided that the sound frequencies trigger the function, while the sensor is sensitive to other frequencies up to the frequency range of the sound for reliably detecting the tapping.

A lighting device includes: an illuminator which emits illumination light; a clock which measures time; a receiver which receives input of a set time from a user; a sensor which detects whether an eye of the user is open; and a controller which controls, at or after the set time, the illuminator, based on a result of the detection by the sensor.

Organic light-emitting diodes as well as luminaires with such organic light-emitting diodes are specified. The luminaires may in particular be the following apparatuses, or the luminaires are part of existing apparatuses: alarm, shower cubicle, shower head, solar protection, rain protection, lamp, bed, signaling light, changing cubicle, vision protection, housing, emergency lighting, mirror, slabs, ceiling lights, radiator cladding, blinds, noise protection, umbrella, warning light.

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. One or more alarms on the device may be temporarily disabled when sensor data indicates that the user is asleep. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the devicesuch as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the likemay also be used to deduce the user's current activity. User data (such as calendar entries) may also be used to determine likely user activity and set alarms accordingly. Biometric data from a second, nearby person may also be used to automatically select certain alarm modes on a first person's device.