Are 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 late in the evening or are sensitive to light during migraines, Twilight might be the perfect solution for you!
Recent research highlights that exposure to blue light before sleep can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep. This is due to a photoreceptor in your eyes known as Melanopsin, which is sensitive to blue light in the 460-480nm range and can suppress the production of Melatonin—a hormone crucial for maintaining healthy sleep-wake cycles. Studies have shown that reading on a tablet or smartphone for a few hours before bed can delay sleep by about an hour.
The Twilight app adjusts your device's screen to match the time of day, filtering out blue light after sunset and applying a soothing red filter to protect your eyes. The filter's intensity is smoothly adjusted according to your local sunset and sunrise times. Twilight is also compatible with Wear OS devices, ensuring comprehensive blue light protection across all your gadgets.
Documentation
Learn more about Twilight at http://twilight.urbandroid.org/doc/.
Get More from Twilight
1) Bed Reading: Twilight enhances the night reading experience by making it more pleasant on the eyes. It can also dim the screen beyond the capabilities of standard backlight controls.
2) AMOLED Screens: After five years of testing on AMOLED screens, Twilight shows no signs of causing depletion or over-burning. Properly configured, it reduces light emission and distributes light more evenly, potentially extending the lifespan of your AMOLED screen.
Basics on Circadian Rhythm and the Role of Melatonin
Explore more about circadian rhythms and melatonin at:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanopsin
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythms
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm_disorder
Permissions
- Location: To determine your local sunset and sunrise times.
- Running Apps: To disable Twilight in specific apps.
- Write Settings: To adjust the backlight settings.
- Network: To access smart lighting solutions like Philips HUE and reduce blue light exposure in your home environment.
Accessibility Service
To filter notifications and lock screens, Twilight may request to enable its Accessibility Service. This service is used solely to enhance screen filtering and does not collect personal information. Learn more at https://twilight.urbandroid.org/is-twilights-accessibility-service-a-thread-to-my-privacy/.
Wear OS
Twilight syncs with your Wear OS device, allowing you to control filtering from a dedicated "Wear OS Tile".
Automation (Tasker or other)
Learn about automating Twilight at https://sites.google.com/site/twilight4android/automation.
Related Scientific Research
- 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)
