Looks like Fatigue Science makes a device called the READIBAND [1], which is used to track sleeping patterns so you can adjust your schedule accordingly, but right now it is only available to military, sports, and big industrial clients. Sounds pretty interesting, in that sports teams are seeing a real benefit.

Can someone who uses one of these performance monitors weight in? Doesn't have to be the READIBAND, but what about Fitbit Flex [2], Jawbone Up [3], or the Nike Fuelband [4]. Does anyone actually notice a marked difference in alertness throughout the day?

[1] http://fatiguescience.com/readiband-2/

[2] http://www.fitbit.com/

[3] https://jawbone.com/up

[4] http://www.nike.com/ca/en_ca/c/nikeplus-fuelband

I don't personally use any of these products but I know Northwestern University did a very similar project with their football team. They had success with the normal consumer level product (either the flex or up, don't remember which)

Marc Cuban (owner of the Mavericks) is big on sensor technology. He talks about it alllll the time on Shark Tank.

edit: clarification.

The Readiband provides clinical level sleep and fatigue analysis. It is FDA approved and is 93% accurate which is why it is also used by reserach groups like Harvard Medical School and the FAA research group. The other technologies call themselves consumer "gadgets" for a good reason. There is little or no science behind the products. Consumers should always ask, "Where is the validation?"

They might be the first NBA team to do it, but I know of at least one Major League Soccer team that does this.

Does this write know what first means?

The article mentions the Vancouver Canucks using it since 2009.

First in the NBA. This article was posted to the NBA's site, not a general sporting news site.

FTA: "In the next few days, the Dallas Mavericks will become the first team in the NBA to have their players wear black, digital wristwatches that don’t tell time."

The article also makes the claim that it's a -- "digital wristwatches that don't tell time."

Turns out the watch actually tells time, and has an alarm. You can look at FAQ section @ http://www.readiband.com/pages/trials-pricing

Now sports agents and teams will begin negotiating how much sleep and downtime their athletes must have.

"We need this player to get 8.25 hours of sleep a night"

"My client will only do 7.5. He's shooting a movie next week"

"7.8?"

... and they won't put impact sensors in their players helmets to track potential brain injuries.

Do you have any idea how expensive those electronic basketball helmets are?

Come to think of it, I'm having trouble remembering how much regular basketball helmets cost...

This is NBA, not NFL.

The NFL was only mentioned once in the entire article.