Netflix has created 'smart' socks that sense when you fall asleep and pause the show you're watching
Falling asleep during a Netflix binge can be annoying.
Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you are, when you wake up, you might have no idea where you fell asleep in the episode. You might not even remember which episode you were in altogether.
Fortunately Netflix has a cheeky solution to your problems: "Netflix socks." Netflix has built socks that read your body to understand when you fall asleep, and then automatically pause your Netflix show.
But Netflix not only built the prototype of these socks, but actually put some totally do-able DIY plans online so you can make your own.
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Netflix based the sleep detection system in the socks off of "actigraphy," which uses an accelerometer to tell when you've stopped moving for awhile (presumably when you've fallen alseep). In the socks prototype, an LED light in the cuff of the sock begins to flash red when you've been immobile, letting you know it is about to pause your show. If you move at all, it cancels the countdown.
Now, these socks aren't perfectly accurate, but it's still a fun idea that wearable makers might want to take note of. I would certainly welcome a smartwatch that could catch me nodding off while watching Netflix.
Here's the full video from Netflix. Keep scrolling past the video to see a brief overview of the creation of the socks.
First, you assemble the components.
Netflix
This is what you'll need according to Netflix:
Knit socks
Arduino microcontroller
IR LEDs
LED indicator light
Battery
Momentary button
Accelerometer
12x12 piece of felt
Then you create a smart insert for the sock.
Netflix
The full instructions for how to do so are on Netflix's site.
You slip the insert into your sock.
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You fold over the LED light part so you can tell when it senses you're asleep (in case of a false alarm).
Netflix
When you fall asleep the light starts flashing.
Netflix
And if you don't move at that point, it pauses your show.
Netflix
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