Fall asleep in front of the TV? This new device could help

Falling asleep in front of the television is a Christmas tradition. Credit: Virgin Media

More than a few of us will be familiar with the story: a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and a few mince pies down and it's a case of falling asleep in front of the TV five minutes into that Doctor Who Christmas Special you've been itching to see.

Now two tech-savvy teenagers have come up with a smart way to stop you missing anything - creating a gadget that automatically pauses and records the programme when viewers start to snooze.

Ryan Oliver, 15, and Jonathan Kingsley, 14, created the KipstR - a wristband that can detect whether its user has fallen asleep using based on their heartrate.

Ryan and Jonathan with the wristband (note the Richard Branson picture in the corner). Credit: Virgin Media

The prototype model - commissioned by Virgin Media - contains a chip which dictates when a linked TiVo records, pauses or re-plays.

The 3D-printed band could also be used to monitor emotional reactions to certain TV programmes, helping the set-top box to remember and suggest programmes that garner the strongest responses.

Virgin says it is also looking into ways the device could be used to control other things in the home such as central heating.