Smartphones have a bad rep. There's allegations that they increase anxiety, affect our eyesight and even can cause cancer.
Apple are looking to address at least one issue that's commonly associated with smartphones and that's sleep disturbance.
There is a growing body of research which indicates that our phones (which some people describe as an extension of themselves) can wreck havoc on out sleeping patterns. The science behind the research asserts that bright smartphone and tablet screens emit a large amount of blue and green light frequencies, something out bodies associate with daylight hours. This can suppress the production of melatonin - a hormone the body releases when it's preparing for a night of sleep.
While there are numerous app available to try and help reduce this problem, Apple have decided to tackle the issue themselves with the release of iOS 9.3. The new operating system comes with a function called "Night Shift" which uses your iOS device’s clock and geolocation to determine when it’s sunset in your location. It then automatically shifts the colors in your display to the warmer end of the spectrum, making it easier on your eyes. In the morning, it returns the display to its regular settings.
This will certainly be a welcome new feature but as there's still no official release date for iOS 9.3 we'll have to settle for the good old paper book reading before bed until then.
Via Short List