Tech

Apps You Can Relax With

Published

5 years ago

April 21, 2021

Jonathan Grilli

Sleep Cycle

Price and Platform: $1.99, iPhone

The people that have used this app are constantly singing its praises. When you use this app, you’ll want to place your phone next to you on your mattress. The app works alongside the accelerometer in the iPhone, using a sensor to monitor your movement so that it can accurately determine the phase of sleep you’re in and track your sleep cycle levels. It presents you with a graph that can tell you a lot about the quality of the sleep you’re getting. This data can be incredibly useful. For example, you can see if you don’t sleep as well on nights where you drink tea.

When you’re sleeping lightly, you’ll wake up more easily, and you’ll have more energy throughout the day. When you set an alarm, the app sets a 30-minute window ahead of that time. It will make sure you’ve woken up when you’re in the lightest phase of sleep. Even if you’re woken up 30 minutes earlier, you’ll feel much better when you woke up.

There’s a similar app with fewer features available on Android, known as Sleepbot. This app also keeps track of your sleep patterns so that it can wake you up at the appropriate time.

Earthlapse

Price and Platform: $0.99, Android, Free, iOS

This app does everything it can to help you relax. It plays cosmic-inspired music while showing you time-lapse photos that were actually taken by NASA astronauts. If you touch the views, you’ll be able to set the speed of your images. Thanks to the weather and clock availabilities, it’s handy to have this app on your night table. You can use this app to distract yourself from the stresses of your everyday life.

Deep Relaxation

Price and Platform: Free, iPhone

Deep Relaxation is based around the Silva Method, which teaches you to center yourself while meditating. There are two different options: a 30-minute track for deep relaxation or 20-minutes for quick relaxation The leader of these tracks, Laura, has a voice that’s pleasant and soothing. The app has plenty of positive reviews, and Laura’s relaxing voice is one of the things that people praise. Although the app is free, it’s possible that there are no costs because the app is trying to entice you to pay for another program. Still, you can get a lot out of the free version of the app. On Android, there’s a similar free app titled “Relax With Andrew Johnson Lite.” This is a self-hypnosis app that is designed to encourage relaxation.

Squeeze and Shake Stress Relief

Price and Platform: $0.99, iPhone

This app essentially operates as a stress ball. It looks like a rubber duck, and it makes a fun squeaking noise when you press down on the screen. If you press the sides of the phone and give it a good shake, you’ll be able to get a hand massage. When you shake faster, you’ll get a more intense massage. People have been using stress balls to unwind for a very long time. People often say that repeating the same movement over and over is enough to relax you. Of course, people will notice you shaking and squeezing your phone, which is why you’ll probably want to use that app when you’re at home. When you’re done using the app, you should feel far more relaxed.

Marine Aquarium

Price and Platform: $1.99, iPhone and iPad

Not everyone is a fan of aquariums. It can be creepy to look at fish in this sort of environment, especially if you spot some dead fish in the tank. However, studies have found that watching fish in the water can lower your heart rate, elevate your mood, and even bring your blood pressure down. This is the reason you see fish tanks in waiting rooms. You’ll see videos featuring real fish, not fish that are animated. You’ll be able to select your favorites from 28 different species and even change the lighting in the foreground and the background. Thankfully, you’ll never have to worry that these fish will die.

If you feel you may need professional help for stress or depression visit clarityclinic.com.

Tech

How iAsk Visual Search Captures and Delivers Detailed Insights from the World You See

Published

5 days ago

December 19, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: iAsk.ai

Byline: Shem Albert

There are moments when the world around you sparks curiosity, yet you do not even know the word for what you are seeing. You describe it in painstaking detail, type and retype, scroll through search results, hoping something matches. Minutes pass, sometimes longer, just to uncover a simple answer. That experience of encountering something unfamiliar and struggling to put it into words is all too common, yet often goes unnoticed. With a single photo, however, everything changes. iAsk Visual Search bridges that gap. Suddenly, the mystery becomes an opportunity to learn, experiment, or act in the moment.

Turning Discovery into Action

Using iAsk Visual Search is simple, yet the possibilities it opens up are immediate. You open the app and snap a photo of the object, diagram, or scene that has caught your attention. Instantly, the app identifies what it sees and provides context, turning a moment of curiosity into a starting point for exploration. From there, you can ask follow-up questions to dig deeper, consider alternatives, or uncover how something works in practical terms.

This goes far beyond basic identification. Where traditional image recognition might simply name an object or offer a brief description, iAsk lets you continue the conversation. It remembers the image, so you can explore multiple layers of information without starting over. What begins as a single observation quickly expands into actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Real-World Applications in Everyday Life

The real test of significance for iAsk Visual Search is how it is used in a user’s everyday life. Novice cooks and experienced chefs can rely on it to identify an unfamiliar ingredient and ask follow-up questions, such as preparation tips, cooking methods, or possible substitutions. Users can experiment with complementary flavors or adapt recipes based on what is available in their pantry, reducing hesitation and encouraging culinary creativity.

A quick snapshot of a street sign, menu, or product label in a foreign language is another way iAsk Visual Search supports everyday tasks. Users can ask follow-up questions to clarify translations, understand cultural context, or receive practical guidance. This enables individuals to navigate unfamiliar environments with confidence and ease.

These examples illustrate how iAsk Visual Search can become a versatile companion in daily life. It can serve as a travel guide, a study aid, or a creative assistant. Artists, crafters, and curious hobbyists can explore materials, techniques, or designs with guidance that is immediate and interactive. Each interaction transforms curiosity into tangible results, empowering users to act on the knowledge they gain instantly.

A Tool That Stands Apart

iAsk Visual Search stands out for its interactive, context-sensitive design. Users can maintain an ongoing dialogue with the app, exploring details without losing sight of the original image. This makes it possible to investigate complex subjects and adapt the information to specific tasks.

Privacy and accessibility are central to the experience. Images are not stored, personal data is not tracked, and there are no ads to interrupt the workflow. The app is available across multiple platforms without subscription barriers, making it accessible to students, parents, hobbyists, and professionals alike.

Curiosity Translated into Results

iAsk Visual Search turns a simple photo into an understanding you can act on. Whether it’s decoding a diagram, identifying an object, or untangling a confusing concept, a snapshot instantly delivers context, explanations, and next steps. It doesn’t just show you — it teaches you, guiding each discovery into something useful.

Every question becomes a chance to learn, explore, or create. From the kitchen to the classroom, the trailhead to the studio, iAsk makes the world clearer and curiosity immediately productive.

Snap. Ask. Learn. Then act. The answers are there. All you need to do is iAsk.