Pranit Mahamuni

SOMA - A Biophilic Multimodal Sleep Support Device

SOMA is a screenless bedside device that aids the transition from wakefulness to sleep with a multisensory, guided bedtime ritual. Designed as an MSc Interaction and Experience Design dissertation project at the University of Limerick, SOMA investigates the use of warm light, breath-paced guidance, ambient sound and biophilic design to prepare the body and mind for sleep without a screen.

The centerpiece of the ritual is a warm amber light that shifts over the ritual to mimic the light cues associated with melatonin release at sunset. This is combined with a guided 4-7-8 breathing technique, a looping soundscape of rain sounds, and short guided meditations, all placed in the context of a bedtime ritual that fades to darkness as you drift off to sleep. Encased in a spiral, plant-filled enclosure that takes inspiration from biophilic design, SOMA aims to feel less like a device and more like a small living being on your bedside table.

The project uses autoethnographic diaries, participant interviews, and a working Arduino prototype to investigate how multimodal, sensory-oriented design might provide an alternative to bedtime smartphone usage.