Weekly Update 02/14/26 to 02/20/26 (Glasses, Gums, and Better Sleep)

 Weekly Update 02/14/26 to 02/20/26 (Glasses, Gums, and Better Sleep)

Finally, my new glasses arrived. I’m very pleased with them. I can see much better now. In fact, I’m wondering whether I still need separate computer and regular glasses. I can see the screen well with my regular glasses, though the computer ones may still be slightly better. I’m a little disappointed that they are larger than I would prefer, but overall, I’m very satisfied.

This week I had my first dental treatment for periodontal disease, and I was very worried about it. I had heard stories about gum cutting with lasers. It was nothing like that. In fact, I’ve had many routine cleanings that were much worse than this treatment. The main differences were that the procedure was done over two days, though I’m not sure why, and that the sonic cleaning technology seems improved since my last visit. In the past, I often felt like I was drowning in the water used during the cleaning. That did not happen this time. Now I’m looking forward to the filling scheduled for next week.

I’ve also been very pleased with one of the new features on the iPhone with iOS 26. I enabled the “Ask the Reason for Calling” feature. When a call comes in from a number not in my contacts, the iPhone asks the caller to identify themselves and state their reason before the phone rings. This allows me to decide whether to answer. I receive several scam or robocalls each day, and now they no longer interrupt me. I’ve heard that this feature can increase the likelihood of robocall attempts, but that does not concern me as long as I do not have to engage with them or even know they tried.

Recently, I purchased a new Apple Watch and have been very pleased with it. The longer battery life makes it significantly more usable. Previously, it would last about 24 hours between charges and occasionally required charging while I slept. Now, after 24 hours, I still have more than 50 percent remaining. I can recharge when it is convenient and still have sufficient battery for the entire day.

One feature this watch has that my previous one did not is sleep monitoring. I installed an app, Sleepwell, to monitor my sleep and detect snoring. The app records sounds it believes are snoring and also captures other noises, such as walking or talking. I like the way the app presents its data. However, the snoring detection leaves much to be desired. Each morning, there are dozens of recordings that, when I listen to them, do not sound like snoring. The app costs about $20 per year, and I do not plan to renew it. Apple’s built-in sleep tracking is free. It does not record or detect snoring, but the data appears more accurate, especially in identifying when I am awake, and it does not need to be manually activated each night. Attached are images from Sleepwell and Apple Health.

At work, things continue to go well. I am waiting for guidance on how we plan to interface with end users and for an opportunity to review how current credit card processing in FACTS integrates with CENPOS.

 

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