Introduction
In today's tech-driven world, AI is no longer just a tool for big corporations or seasoned developers. It's accessible to everyone, even for solving everyday problems. That's exactly what I did to uncover why I was waking up at night. Living in a noisy city, I needed to understand what was disrupting my sleep and how to address it.
The Problem
I live in a noisy city. Some nights I wake up at 3 AM with no clue why. Other times, I don't fully wake up, but my watch shows something pulled me out of deep sleep at 3:32 AM. The issue is that, often, the noise that wakes us disappears before our brain is fully conscious. Without an identifiable cause, finding a solution is challenging.
The Idea Behind the Tool
I already had a smart home setup with Home Assistant and various sensors (motion, doors, temperature, etc.). For this project, I added two cheap USB microphones, a Raspberry Pi, and integrated my sleep data from my Garmin watch. The Raspberry Pi only listens when I'm home and in bed, recording interesting sounds for later analysis.
How AI Helped
The AI algorithm I used focuses on detecting significant sounds, linking them to sleep data and existing sensor events. Everything is visualized in a web app that presents each night like tracks in a music editor. This allowed me to identify patterns and understand which specific sounds were waking me.
The Results
After a few weeks of use, I determined that street noises were the main culprits. By adjusting my windows and using earplugs, I improved my sleep quality. The tool also helped me adjust my sleep routine for better recovery.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates how AI can turn everyday problems into opportunities for personal innovation. Whether it's improving your sleep quality or addressing any other need, AI offers practical and accessible solutions.
Let's discuss your project in 15 minutes.