(This post was last modified: 02-25-2019, 06:40 PM by Marko.)
Its like a FitBit that you wear around your finger rather than your wrist. Its a little less intrusive than a wrist mounted activity tracker. I think the prices will come down as they improve and gain market acceptance. They do some things my Apple watch doesn't do and vice versa. As for big brother, I'm not sure that they have GPS capability so the data it collects would be yours to keep or share as you like...assuming there are no hidden capabilities the manufacturers forgot to mention.
If you're already using an activity tracker or an Apple watch then I don't see this technology as any more intrusive. I've got a Gen 1 Apple Watch and I don't get the battery life to wear all day and all night too if I wanted to track my sleep. (the current generation has improved battery life) That and the fact that I don't want to wear a watch while I sleep but I already wear a ring 24/7 so one of these things wouldn't require much adaptation.
I get that some people might think that all that sleep data is unnecessary but as you get older sleep can become an issue. If you can get real time data that can allow you to make modifications and adjustments that can improve your sleep I think that can be useful. Small changes can lead to big rewards - for example I read a number of years ago that alcohol, even a small amount taken close to bedtime can significantly degrade your sleep. Apparently it interferes with your ability to get into REM sleep. At the time I was working and going to the gym in the evenings after dinner. I'd get home around 10 - 10:30 and have a glass of wine or a beer (really, just 1) to unwind and recharge those electrolytes. Then I'd go to bed. I had no trouble falling asleep but I didn't feel particularly well-rested in the morning. I figured it was because I was getting up early and going to a soul destroying job to spend the day with agents of soul destruction. So I read this article based on so called "science" and figure, "hmm, I wonder if there's anything to this?" I went for a couple of weeks without having any post workout wine or beer and felt OK. Then I decide, I really want to have that post workout beverage. Wouldn't you know it? I felt crappy the next morning. Yes anecdotal I know but what I got was a slow, gradual improvement in my morning energy levels - so slow I barley noticeD it but when I went back to the post workout consumption, I noticed the crappiness immediately. So I no longer have alcohol within 3 or 4 hours of bedtime. It was hard at first because I figured, damn, when am I going to drink? Can't drink after work before I go to the gym, can't drink during work (Lord knows I wanted to sometimes) and drinking at breakfast is just wrong. Beer on your cereal? Beereal? Nope, thats a recipe for unemployment and divorce. But it might be tasty.
Bottom line is that some data might be helpful in making improvements to our general health and well being. These rings might be useful.
