Each week our friends at Backerjack highlight a cool crowdfunded gadget. This week we look at BedJet v2, which has raced past 12x its campaign goal.
As anyone who’s tried to get comfortable during a sticky summer heat wave or frigid winter frost knows, temperature is an important component of nighttime comfort. Indeed, we’ve already seen sleep monitoring projects that monitor temperature, along with other factors such as noise and ambient light. But while these products can help you understand if the temperature is keeping you awake, they can’t do anything about it.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1786122,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,","session":"C"}']That’s no obstacle for BedJet v2, earlier versions of which have already seen Kickstarter success and Shark Tank failure. Designed by a former NASA engineer, BedJet uses a noise-dampened blower to adjust the temperature during your nocturnal slumbers. The result is, to quote the campaign, a “magical event in your bedding.” Stealing a page from the Select Comfort air mattress (the Sleep Number guys), it can service each side of a bed independently to match personal preference.
The $499 original BedJet that’s already on Amazon has a companion app for setting the desired temperature. but Version 2 can dynamically adjust temperature throughout the night to help slumberers achieve their ideal core body temperature and support their Circadian rhythm. BedJet cites two government studies to boost its credibility. In any case, it’s not the only recent Kickstarter project concerned with measuring core body temperature. Also note that BedJet does not claim to be a substitute for an air conditioner and states that it works best in temperatures below 78° F.
AI Weekly
The must-read newsletter for AI and Big Data industry written by Khari Johnson, Kyle Wiggers, and Seth Colaner.
Included with VentureBeat Insider and VentureBeat VIP memberships.
To trip the night fantastic, BedJet has set a goal of $24,000 in a campaign that’s slated to end on September 16th. For the duration of the campaign, the BedJet v2 can be obtained for $249 (with a $199 early bird option), about half the price of the original, with rewards due in December. And since the company is already shipping its core product, this seems like one of the less risky campaigns.
Like many app-connected products, the BedJet just seems to offer a convenient solution to something people have been managing in other ways over the years, in this case, by turning on a $20 fan or space heater. But the company points to high Amazon ratings as evidence of customer satisfaction. If its new iteration can drive sleep quality as well as comfort, it could elevate its status from the trivial to the therapeutic.
To keep up with the latest crowdfunded tech innovations, sign up for the Backerjack Daily Digest.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More