DownloadAre you struggling to fall asleep at night? Do your children become hyperactive after using tablets before bedtime? If you're using your smartphone or tablet in the evening or if you're sensitive to light during migraines, Twilight might be the solution you need!
Recent studies suggest that exposure to blue light before sleep can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep. This is due to the photoreceptor in your eyes known as Melanopsin, which is sensitive to blue light in the 460-480nm range. This sensitivity can suppress Melatonin production, a crucial hormone for maintaining healthy sleep-wake cycles. Research indicates that reading on a tablet or smartphone for a couple of hours before bed can delay sleep by about an hour.
The Twilight app adjusts your device's screen to the time of day, filtering out blue light after sunset and applying a soothing red filter to protect your eyes. The intensity of this filter smoothly adjusts based on your local sunset and sunrise times. Twilight is also compatible with Wear OS devices.
Documentation
For more detailed information, visit: http://twilight.urbandroid.org/doc/
Get More from Twilight
1) Bed Reading: Twilight enhances your night reading experience by being gentler on your eyes. It can dim the screen beyond the capabilities of standard backlight controls.
2) AMOLED Screens: Our tests on AMOLED screens over five years show no signs of depletion or over-burning. When properly configured, Twilight reduces light emission and provides a more uniform light distribution, potentially extending your screen's lifespan.
Basics on Circadian Rhythm and the Role of Melatonin
Learn more about:
Permissions
Twilight requires the following permissions:
- Location: To determine your local sunset and sunrise times.
- Running Apps: To disable Twilight in selected apps.
- Write Settings: To adjust the backlight.
- Network: To integrate with smart lighting systems like Philips HUE to reduce blue light exposure in your home.
Accessibility Service
To filter notifications and the lock screen, Twilight may request the use of the Twilight Accessibility Service. This service is used solely to enhance screen filtering and does not collect any personal data. For more details, please visit https://twilight.urbandroid.org/is-twilights-accessibility-service-a-thread-to-my-privacy/.
Wear OS
Twilight syncs with your Wear OS device, applying the same filter settings as your phone. You can control the filtering through a "Wear OS Tile".
Automation (Tasker or Other)
For automation options, check out: https://sites.google.com/site/twilight4android/automation
Related Scientific Research
Explore these studies to understand the impact of light on sleep:
- Amplitude Reduction and Phase Shifts of Melatonin, Cortisol and Other Circadian Rhythms after a Gradual Advance of Sleep and Light Exposure in Humans (Derk-Jan Dijk, & Co, 2012)
- Exposure to Room Light before Bedtime Suppresses Melatonin Onset and Shortens Melatonin Duration in Humans (Joshua J. Gooley, Kyle Chamberlain, Kurt A. Smith & Co, 2011)
- Effect of Light on Human Circadian Physiology (Jeanne F. Duffy, Charles A. Czeisler, 2009)
- Efficacy of a single sequence of intermittent bright light pulses for delaying circadian phase in humans (Claude Gronfier, Kenneth P. Wright, & Co, 2009)
- Intrinsic period and light intensity determine the phase relationship between melatonin and sleep in humans (Kenneth P. Wright, Claude Gronfier & Co, 2009)
- The Impact of Sleep Timing and Bright Light Exposure on Attentional Impairment during Night Work (Nayantara Santhi & Co, 2008)
- Short-Wavelength Light Sensitivity of Circadian, Pupillary, and Visual Awareness in Humans Lacking an Outer Retina (Farhan H. Zaidi & Co, 2007)
