iPhone Sleep Monitors, IR Remote Testing & Glowing Easter Eggs

Reader Tips Roundup: iPhone Sleep Tracking, Remote Testing, and Glowing Easter Eggs

Each week, we compile and present a selection of helpful tips submitted by our readers. This installment focuses on utilizing your iPhone for sleep cycle monitoring, a method for verifying remote control functionality with a digital camera, and an inventive technique for creating luminous Easter eggs.

iPhone as a Sleep Monitor

One reader discovered a method for employing their iPhone as a sleep tracking device. This allows the phone to identify the optimal moment within your sleep cycle to gently awaken you.

By analyzing your movement during sleep, the iPhone can determine a lighter phase of sleep. Waking during this phase can leave you feeling more refreshed and less groggy.

Testing Your Remote Control

Another resourceful tip involves testing the functionality of your remote control using a digital camera. This provides a simple way to confirm if the remote is emitting an infrared signal.

Point the remote at the camera lens and press a button. If the remote is working correctly, you should observe a flashing light on the camera's display when viewed in playback mode. This indicates the infrared signal is being transmitted.

Crafting Glowing Easter Eggs

A creative reader shared a unique approach to crafting Easter eggs that glow in the dark. This adds a fun and visually striking element to traditional egg decorating.

The technique involves utilizing a specific type of paint or dye that exhibits phosphorescence. These materials absorb light and then slowly release it, creating a glowing effect in darkness. This results in beautifully illuminated Easter eggs.

These tips represent just a small sample of the ingenuity demonstrated by our readership. We encourage everyone to continue sharing their clever solutions and helpful advice.

Monitoring Sleep Patterns Using Your iPhone

Following our earlier coverage of Sleepyti.me, Nico shared a helpful iPhone-based method for tracking sleep.

Utilizing iPhone Sensors for Sleep Analysis

Nico recommends leveraging the capabilities of an iPhone as a sleep sensor. He has personally used the Sleep Cycle application for several years.

This app employs the iPhone’s built-in motion sensors to identify shifts between different sleep stages, specifically deep and light sleep, by analyzing movement.

Optimizing Wake-Up Times

Users input their desired wake-up time, and the app intelligently determines the optimal moment within their sleep cycle to trigger the alarm.

For example, if a user sets an 8:00 AM wake-up time, and the app detects 7:15 AM as an ideal time for a refreshed awakening, the alarm will activate accordingly.

The goal is to rouse the user during a lighter phase of sleep, avoiding the grogginess associated with waking from deep sleep.

User Endorsement

Nico considers Sleep Cycle to be a worthwhile investment, highlighting it as one of his most valuable app purchases.

We are interested in learning about comparable applications available for Android devices. Readers with recommendations are encouraged to share their experiences!

Diagnosing IR Remote Issues Using a Digital Camera

A reader, Tom, has shared a resourceful method for identifying problems with a universal TV remote. This technique provides a basic diagnostic step when troubleshooting remote control functionality.

The Problem & The Solution

Tom encountered an issue where his universal remote appeared to be malfunctioning. Despite replacing the batteries, the television wasn't receiving any signals.

Since the remote lacked a signal indicator, Tom devised a test using his smartphone’s camera. This approach can be applied with most digital cameras as well.

How to Test Your Remote

By pointing the remote at the camera and activating the remote, Tom was able to visually confirm the infrared (IR) output from the IR LED on the remote’s front panel.

The camera displays the infrared light emitted by the remote, indicating whether the remote is actually transmitting a signal.

A Useful Troubleshooting Tip

This method is a simple yet effective way to determine if a remote control is functioning correctly. It’s a valuable addition to any troubleshooting toolkit.

We will add this clever trick to our collection of helpful diagnostic procedures. It represents a practical approach to isolating the source of remote control issues.

This technique allows for quick verification of the remote’s functionality before investigating more complex problems.

Affordable Illuminated Easter Eggs

A reader named Milly has submitted a resourceful do-it-yourself solution.

A Simple Alternative to LEDs

Following a previous article concerning LED illuminated Easter eggs, Milly discovered a more accessible method.

Instead of utilizing batteries and LEDs, she implemented a technique found online.

This involved filling Easter eggs with thin glow sticks purchased from a dollar store.

Ease of Implementation

Employing glow sticks presents a quicker and more convenient solution, particularly when time is limited.

This approach bypasses the need for expedited LED delivery.

Milly’s contribution offers a practical and cost-effective alternative for creating glowing Easter eggs.

Do you have a helpful tip or trick you’d like to share? Send your submissions to tips@howtogeek.com!