Welcome to the latest episode of the BMedical Podcast: Science from the Field, where we speak with Rick Blatt, Commercial Manager at ActivInsights, to talk about the development of the new Actigraphy Sleep Toolkit — a major step forward in sleep research and clinical analysis. We’ll be discussing how and why the toolkit was developed, how feedback from clinicians and researchers shaped it, and what the future looks like for actigraphy software and sleep scoring.
Ben: Rick, can you start by sharing what prompted the development of the Actigraphy Sleep Toolkit?
Rick: Thanks, Ben, and thanks for the opportunity to talk about the Sleep Toolkit. It’s great to be able to share what we’ve been developing. In general, the Actigraphy Sleep Toolkit was created to support sleep clinicians and researchers by generating reports from actigraphy data that include key sleep metrics. Activinsights has been producing research-grade actigraphy devices for over a decade, providing high-resolution raw data, but we recognised that there was a gap between what researchers needed and what clinicians wanted. Researchers needed raw, detailed data for analysis, while clinicians needed quick, easy-to-use reports with validated sleep metrics. With the withdrawal of the Philips Actiwatch from the market, we saw an opportunity to work closely with customers — and even some of the Philips team — to develop a replacement solution. The Sleep Toolkit is completely free and provides clinicians with detailed sleep reports using traditional, well-tested scoring methods. It works with data from both GENEActiv and Actiwatch devices in .awd format, but with the added benefit of being able to use high-quality raw data from GENEActiv.
Ben: How did feedback from clinicians and researchers influence the design of the toolkit?
Rick: We started with a version of the Sleep Toolkit that was very similar to the Actiwatch software, but we built it with the intention that it would evolve over time. Our first goal was to make it quick and easy to use without needing multiple software programs. We also made it web-based, so there’s no installation required — you just access it through your browser. The response from users has been really positive so far, and many have been surprised that a tool like this is completely free. We’re getting great suggestions from users all the time, which we review regularly and add where appropriate. The idea is that this is a community-driven project, so we’re always keen to hear from more users about features they’d like to see.
Ben: Just to clarify, no data is sent to the cloud, right?
Rick: That’s right. When you use the Sleep Toolkit, all the data is stored locally on your computer. None of it is uploaded to the cloud. In the future, there may be an option for cloud storage, but it would still be kept within the country where the work is being done. At the moment, everything is stored locally and securely within your browser.
Ben: That’s good to hear. We often get questions about that from hospitals — whether it’s CPAP data or any kind of web-based data. Can you talk a bit more about the gap between what sleep researchers need and what clinicians require when it comes to software and analysis?
Rick: Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned earlier, the toolkit was partly developed in response to the withdrawal of the Philips Actiwatch. There were a lot of users who suddenly found themselves without a supported device and without software to process their data. We wanted to make sure they had a solution that would let them continue working seamlessly — something that matched the data and reports they were used to, while also helping them transition to GENEActiv devices as their Actiwatches reached the end of their lifespan. Because the Actiwatch had such a strong presence in the market, it was important for us to build trust in the data and provide reports that clinicians could recognise instantly. So, we mirrored the design of the Actiwatch software but made improvements where we could. We’ve been involved in sleep research for a long time and have over 200 peer-reviewed publications using our technology, some showing direct compatibility with the Actiwatch and others showing enhanced outcomes. That gives users confidence that the data and reports are reliable.
Ben: I’d agree with that. Some of our customers who were involved early on compared the data from GeneActiv with their older Philips devices and said they actually preferred the GENEActiv data. It seemed to give more accurate results, likely because of the higher sample rate.
Rick: Yes, absolutely. We’re hearing similar feedback from customers in the UK, that the data quality is excellent and often better than what they were used to.
Ben: So where is ActivInsights heading next? What’s the broader vision for the future?
Rick: We’re experts in measuring 24-hour behaviours, and we’re committed to the ongoing development of actigraphy. By using the highest-quality data, there’s a real opportunity to go beyond traditional measures such as bed and rise times or sleep efficiency. We’re now looking at detailed behavioural insights, like posture changes during the night and day-night patterns that can be useful in conditions like narcolepsy. We’re big supporters of open science, making sure tools like this are accessible, free, and continually evolving to support both clinical and research communities.
Ben: Can you walk us through some of the features and how they improve existing workflows?
Rick: Of course. The toolkit is very easy to use, that was the main goal. When you open it, you simply click “Create Report,” select your .awd file, and the report is generated instantly. It provides detailed sleep analysis, including summary metrics for the wear period, double-plotted sleep graphs, and physical activity and light data, as well as environmental and temperature information. Previous workflows often required several software systems and manual steps, but this simplifies the process – you just click and go.
Ben: he toolkit also includes nap detection and automated scoring. Can you explain how those work and what’s coming next?
Rick: Currently, you can manually select rest periods by marking the start and end times, but we’re about to release automatic detection for those periods, which will reduce variability between users. The system already calculates key sleep metrics — total sleep duration, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, and nap count — and includes them directly in the report.
Ben: And temperature data is being added soon too, right?
Rick: Yes, that’s right. GENEActiv records near-body temperature, and that will be displayed in the report as a trace. Users who also record core temperature with other devices will be able to compare the two side by side.
Ben: That’s great. We do a lot of work with core temperature research using ingestible sensors, and many of our customers use both systems together. How have customers responded overall?
Rick: The feedback has been really positive. People like that the toolkit gives them a report within seconds of uploading the data. One of the most encouraging examples comes from a large NHS sleep clinic here in the UK. They said that using GENEActiv alongside the toolkit completely changed the way they discussed results with patients. Patients who thought they weren’t sleeping much could actually see from the data that their sleep quality was better than they realised. That visual, objective data helped clinicians focus on better sleep habits before moving to more intensive studies like polysomnography.
Ben: That’s a great outcome. To finish up, could you summarise what makes the toolkit special in just a few sentences?
Rick: It’s fast, easy to use, and provides near-instant reporting with all the sleep metrics clinicians and researchers need. You can view long-term sleep and wake patterns, activity levels, light exposure, and event markers — all clearly displayed in one report.
Ben: Thank you so much, Rick. If anyone has questions or suggestions for future development, please reach out to the BMedical team.
Rick Blatt
Commercial Manager ActivInsights
Rick is the Commercial Manager at ActivInsights, our UK-based actigraphy partner for wearable devices such as GENEActiv. At ActivInsights, Rick oversees commercial strategy and supports the development of innovative actigraphy tools that enhance research and clinical outcomes. Rick previously founded and successfully sold Newmarket Scientific, a provider of research reagents and laboratory solutions. His career has focused on advancing scientific technologies and building strong, collaborative partnerships across global markets.
