FitBit may soon detect snoring

Team Udayavani, May 31, 2021, 2:11 PM IST

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Fitbit may soon launch a new feature “Snore & Noise Detect” in its devices that will detect snoring and related noises.

This move is aimed to help the spouses and partners of those people suffering from this problem.

According to a report, which decompiled the latest version of the Fitbit app, the feature allows a Fitbit’s microphone (in devices that have one) to listen to “ambient noise including one’s potential snoring” after a person has fallen asleep.

One concern is that this feature would be a major drain on the device’s battery and also the idea of a sleep tracker monitoring noise “throughout the night” could be a little creepy to many, states the report.

As per the 9to5 Google report, “Snore & Noise Detect” monitors noise including snores from you or someone next to you, analysing noise level, and tries to find “snore specific” sounds.

When the Fitbit detects a noise event louder than the baseline noise level, it tries to determine whether it is picking up snoring or something else.

The snore tracker cannot distinguish who is snoring – whether the Fitbit wearer or someone else.

The report suggests that users should charge their Fitbit to at least 40 per cent before they go to bed because “this feature requires more battery power.”

The report does not indicate what users are supposed to do with the information about snoring, but since snoring and the conditions that can lead to it can be seriously disruptive to sleeping, it may be a useful metric to be aware of.