Are you struggling to fall asleep at night? Do your children seem overly energetic after using tablets before bedtime? If you're using smartphones or tablets in the evening, or if you're sensitive to light during migraines, Twilight might be the solution you need!
Recent scientific studies suggest that exposure to blue light before sleep can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm, making it difficult to fall asleep. This is due to a photoreceptor in your eyes called Melanopsin, which is sensitive to blue light within the 460-480nm range. This sensitivity can suppress the production of Melatonin, the hormone crucial 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 soft, soothing red filter. This filter's intensity adjusts smoothly based on your local sunset and sunrise times, protecting your eyes and promoting better sleep. Twilight is also compatible with Wear OS devices.
For more information, visit our documentation at http://twilight.urbandroid.org/doc/.
Enhance your experience with Twilight:
1) Bedtime Reading: Twilight offers a more comfortable night reading experience by allowing the screen backlight to be dimmed far below the standard settings, making it easier on your eyes.
2) AMOLED Screens: We've tested Twilight on AMOLED screens for five years without any signs of depletion or over-burning. When properly configured, Twilight reduces light emission and promotes an even light distribution, which may even extend the lifespan of your AMOLED screen.
To learn more about circadian rhythms and the role of melatonin, check out these resources:
- 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 required by Twilight include:
- Location: to determine your local sunset and sunrise times.
- Running Apps: to pause Twilight in selected applications.
- Write Settings: to adjust the screen backlight.
- Network Access: to connect with smart light systems like Philips HUE to shield your home from blue light.
To filter notifications and the lock screen, Twilight may request access to the Accessibility Service. Rest assured, this service is used solely to enhance screen filtering and does not collect any personal information. Learn more at https://twilight.urbandroid.org/is-twilights-accessibility-service-a-thread-to-my-privacy/.
Twilight syncs with your Wear OS device, allowing you to control the filter settings directly from a "Wear OS Tile".
For automation features, such as integration with Tasker, visit https://sites.google.com/site/twilight4android/automation.
Explore the scientific research supporting Twilight's benefits:
- 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
