Upcoming iOS 9.3 Update Said To Help You Sleep Better

The Science Behind The Blue Light

The reason for the bright blue light from smartphone devices is so that you can see them even during the sunniest times of the day.

While this is all well and good during the day, at night our brain becomes confused and still thinks the sun is still out causing us to stop producing melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that anticipates the daily onset of darkness, and one that helps us regulate our sleeping pattern.

The disruption of melatonin can cause a number of other problems also. A lack of sleep over a long period of time can increase the likelihood of a neurotoxin build-up which can make it even harder for you to get a good night’s sleep. It becomes a vicious circle.

Not only that, suppressed melatonin levels and those whose body clocks are thrown off by frequent blue light exposure are more prone to depression.

Apple To The Rescue

Thankfully, smartphone developer Apple are looking to address this issue following ongoing concern from scientists and the media.

Apple are no stranger to the notion that smartphone use at night is on the rise. With influential media outlets proclaiming the use of smartphones at night is bad for our health, it’s in Apple’s great interest to help address the situation. After all, they definitely don’t want people using their smart devices less.

This is where iOS 9.3 comes into play. While 9.3 is yet to be given an official release date, Apple has given us an iOS 9.3 preview featuring all the updates main talking points.

The one feature in particular that made me take notice was the introduction of “Night Shift”, a feature to “help you get a good night’s sleep”.

Not much information was given on the feature, but the feature simply uses your device’s clock and geolocation to determine the arrival of sunset and then automatically shift its colours to a level that won’t disrupt your circadian rhythm.

With so many electrical devices at the ready in the modern day and countless studies talking unfavourably about using these devices before bed, it begs the question as to why companies like Apple are just starting to take notice.

Nevertheless, Night Shift is on its way to an Apple product near you, so you can safely try and beat level 209 on Candy Crush before bed without worry.

How useful will the new iOS feature 'Night Shift' be to you?