Researchers at the University of Glasgow have created a prototype “smart pillow” designed to help people enjoy music, podcasts, or audiobooks before sleep without looking at a phone screen.
The device allows users to control audio simply by touching, pressing, or hugging the pillow, potentially reducing the negative effects of late-night smartphone use.
The idea behind the smart pillow is simple: many people like to relax with digital content before bed, but screens can interfere with sleep.
Bright light and constant scrolling can delay sleep and make people feel tired the next day.
Instead of asking people to give up bedtime digital habits completely, the researchers wanted to find a way to make them more sleep-friendly.
The research team, led by Dr. Xianghua “Sharon” Ding from the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science, developed the pillow as part of a project exploring new ways technology could support healthier sleep habits.
Their work will be presented at the TEI 2026 conference in Chicago in a paper titled “I Want to Keep My Phone Away From the Bed: Designing a Smart Pillow for Sleep Onset.”
Dr. Ding said that screen use before bedtime has been linked to poorer sleep quality and increased risks of both physical and mental health problems.
However, she also noted that digital content can help people relax and unwind at the end of the day. Listening to music, stories, or podcasts can provide a calming routine before sleep.
To combine these benefits while reducing screen exposure, the team designed a pillow that connects to a smartphone through a companion app. The app allows users to choose what they want to listen to, such as music, news, or audiobooks.
Once the content is selected, the phone can be put aside, and the pillow becomes the main control device.
Inside the pillow, the researchers installed a small speaker and several soft touch sensors. The earliest version allowed users to turn the audio on and off by hugging the pillow. Later versions added more features to make the controls easier to use without opening your eyes.
The team embroidered a simple cat face onto the pillow so users could identify different controls by touch. Sensors placed in the pillow’s “ears” allow users to skip tracks, while a sensor on the cat’s forehead controls play and pause. The controls are also pressure-sensitive to prevent accidental activation while someone is sleeping.
To improve the design, the researchers invited 16 volunteers to test the pillow and share their feedback. Many participants liked the soft and comforting feel of the device, with some saying that hugging it reminded them of childhood toys or pets. Others suggested that the pillow could help reduce stress and make bedtime feel more relaxing.
Participants also proposed new design ideas, such as pillows shaped like different animals, audio that slowly fades out as users fall asleep, or gentle vibrations instead of lights for feedback.
Although the study did not directly measure sleep improvements, the volunteers believed the smart pillow could help reduce bedtime distractions and make it easier to fall asleep.
The research team now hopes to turn the prototype into a real consumer product. By combining comfort with simple touch controls, the smart pillow could offer a new way for people to relax with digital content while still protecting their sleep.
Source: University of Glasgow.
