SURFPAC and a team of scientists from Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) are issuing rings to Sailors to wear during their upcoming deployment. The purpose of this study is to collect sleep data using commercially available sleep tracking devices to develop a fatigue management system. This pilot is part of a wide-scale feasibility assessment to inform the development of our wearables policy, risk assessment, and fatigue management systems. This study aims to improve safe and effective shipboard operations.
Weird, as an engineer my whole career we were told to not wear necklasses, bracelts, or rings.
I was a Navy Engineman for 20 years. Spent most my years on ships. This might be a good (not great) idea if the sleep schedule never changes. If you're in engineering, good luck getting any decent data. Then add flight quarters into the mix. The watch rotation alone will mess this up. Those that have stood 6 and 6 with 6 in middle (yes that's 6 hours of watch, then 6 hours of work then 6 hours of watch, it's an 18 hour day) know exactly what I'm talking about. Or the 5 and dimes with flight quarters and other stuff tossed at you. I hope nobody is surprised of what the data will show. It's not going to be good.
1st question - Are the ships manned to ship class manning document (SMD)? Skewed data will result if we are tracking personnel that work in areas where they are manned at 50-70%. Sleep deprivation is going to occur. Sounds like a science project with a known predetermined outcome. Irregular sleep schedules can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm, and can lead to insomnia Insomnia for everyone 👏
Will the DOD and Navy hide how many sailors lose a finger, are electrocuted or otherwise impaired from the rings during the course of the study? Will there be public transparency since they are trumpeting their study publicly?
Great to see this program expanding!
PD, you are a legend! I would love to bring something like this to CNATRA!
Pacific Defense Supply worked this type of study providing product with Army units several years ago. As technology continues to improve, so does the study. One thing that needs to be mindful is the protection of the data and its devices for the over all protection of its Sailors and the DOD. We forget the CCP hacked our Clearance Database, we surely don’t want them to hack our sleep data. We own the night.
Interesting comments here especially from those who are not familiar with #Oura rings and what they do. They measure vital parameters like heart rate variability and body temperature at night during sleep. Measures of heart rate variability (HRV) are predictors of many underlying health issues including all-cause mortality. I have an Oura for several years now and it has helped me weather all sorts of stress levels as well as infections and predicted Covid way before I had any symptoms. In 2020 the NBA purchased more than 2,000 of these rings for its players and staff to use on a voluntary basis to help keep the coronavirus pandemic at bay. I have worn my ring on ships trains aircraft in the shower while travelling training only taking it off to charge. I’m only a long term customer of #oura and not affiliated to the company. The investment by the military will certainly help personnel wellbeing way beyond the cost.
Senior Program Manager @ King County
3moThree Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.