DUSQ

Most sleep trackers work in hindsight: you wake up, open an app and learn that last night was restless. DUSQ, presented as a Kickstarter project, takes a different approach. The maker describes it as a sleep regulation system that monitors the body through the night and intervenes when it detects disruption, aiming to steer sleep rather than just log it.

Why behind the ear

There is no headgear and no wrist strap. DUSQ sits behind the ear, an area the maker points to because the skin there is thin and it is said to be close to the parasympathetic nervous system. The device is intended to start working before bed, helping a tense nervous system settle as the evening winds down, and to continue through to morning.

Sensing and responding in real time

At the core is an EDA sensor, which reads electrical changes in the skin linked to tension and arousal. The maker says DUSQ uses it to catch micro-interruptions in sleep in real time, including the kind that never fully wake you but may still leave you tired. When such a disruption is detected, the device responds automatically using a proprietary protocol that combines vagus nerve stimulation and vestibular nerve stimulation, delivered non-invasively. The stated goal is to nudge the body back toward rest before it reaches full wakefulness.

• EDA sensor for real-time detection of subtle sleep disruptions
• Automatic response combining vagus and vestibular nerve stimulation
• Non-invasive, worn behind the ear
• App for reviewing sleep cycles and trends
• Charging case that, according to published information, monitors light and sound in the bedroom
• No subscription required, per the maker

Claimed outcomes and ecosystem

The official materials cite increased deep sleep, improved HRV (heart rate variability) and fewer night-time awakenings. These are the maker's claims; the source does not detail how they were measured. DUSQ pairs with an app for tracking sleep cycles and trends, and its charging case is said to monitor environmental factors such as light and sound, linking the state of the body with the conditions of the room. The maker states that no subscription is needed.