Muse Meditation Headband for Sleep

The Evolving Landscape of Meditation and Sleep Technology

The realm of meditation technology presents unique challenges. Individuals striving for mindfulness have often desired a method to accelerate or initiate their practice. The initial Muse headband offered a novel approach, effectively gamifying the process of concentration – a feature that proved surprisingly effective.

Introducing the Muse S (Gen. 2)

Unveiled at CES 2020, the Muse S initially focused on enhancing sleep quality. Early testing proved difficult, as wearing a device during sleep presented its own hurdles. The company now presents a successor, the Muse S (Gen. 2), with a refined focus.

This latest iteration prioritizes maintaining sleep as much as initiating it. For those who struggle with staying asleep, this represents a significant improvement. Many have experienced disrupted sleep patterns, particularly during recent times, falling asleep easily but waking up for extended periods during the night.

Some theorize that humans aren't naturally predisposed to uninterrupted nighttime sleep. Muse highlights that the CDC reports over a third of U.S. adults don't achieve seven hours of sleep nightly – a figure that may be underestimated.

Digital Sleeping Pills and Content Delivery

The new Muse S incorporates “Digital Sleeping Pills,” a somewhat unusual designation. This feature leverages the headband’s EEG readings to deliver targeted sleep-inducing content upon waking, aiming to gently guide the user back to sleep.

A variety of content options are available, including:

Guided meditations
Soothing soundscapes
Sleep stories

This software update will also extend to original Gen 1 Muse users. Beyond the software enhancements, the new headband features minor improvements in accuracy and extended battery performance.

Considerations and Pricing

The $400 price point remains a substantial barrier to entry. It’s likely that a significant number of individuals would be willing to experiment with a sleep-focused gadget at a more accessible cost.