Recently we had an opportunity to speak with Michael Murphy , the Marketing Director at SenseLabs about SenseSleep

Please share with us the backstory of what motivated you to create this app.

Sleep is such an integral part of our health and longevity, and there's some very simple things we can do to improve it. This is why we were so passionate about creating SenseSleep — breathing is basically free medicine and there research is clear around its calming effect on mind and body.

What features do you hope to roll out to your app in the future?

We'd like to make true heart rate variability (HRV) training available in the app. It'll give people more data about their body and how that affects their sleep. It'll also enhance SenseSleep's breath training as well.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of the creation of this app?

The customer feedback has been incredible. We even had someone with trigeminal neuralgia tell us that the app helps her get through an attack by forcing her to breath slowly. She's reported a big difference in pain now that she's relaxed. That's incredible, and there are countless other stories.

What is the coolest or most innovative feature of your app?

SenseSleep records and shows you your heart rate, as you complete a breathing exercise, in real time. It's an amazing way to see your body calming down as you work through the exercise.

What surprised you most in your journey to create this app?

The impact that one simple feature can bring people is remarkable. We have plenty of features we're ready to build into SenseSleep, but the breathing exercise alone has proven to be very powerful. I think simplicity can surprise us all sometimes.

Which other mobile apps or technology have inspired you?

Digital health is an amazing space to be in right now because we're improving the delivery of healthcare, and making treatment more personal. Headspace is a remarkable app and one that we've long been fans of. It's brought mindfulness training to a much broader audience, which is great because there's plenty of evidence that demonstrates the benefits of mindfulness.

How did you decide which platforms to release your app on and do you plan on releasing your app to other platforms?

We wanted to focus on the US during our initial launch, so iPhone was a clear choice. They're the market share leader here domestically. We'll focus on Android as we work to make SenseSleep available internationally.

How is your app different than the rest of the market? Which unique need does it fill?

There are a tremendous amount of sleep trackers on the market, but not a lot of effective sleep interventions. It's great to know you got a bad night of sleep, but then what? SenseSleep allows people to do something simple and natural to improve their sleep quality, and those same trackers can now show that it's working.

Do you have any recommendations or advice for others wanting to create a mobile app?

Focus on creating real value for your customers. If they appreciate what you do for them, they'll use your app, and share it. Customers are what it's all about.

You can view SenseSleep here