Axbo sleep phase alarm clock is similar to the
iPhone sleep cycle alarm clock. Axbo measures your movement during the night and tries to wake you up during light sleep in the morning.
The sleep phase can be identified by the amount of movement. In deep sleep the body is almost still but it becomes more active when moving to lighter sleep phase.
The iPhone app requires you to keep the phone in your bed for its movement sensors to work, but the aXbo clock comes with a wristband that registers your movement and transmits the information to the clock. In fact, the aXbo includes two wristbands and is able to wake up two people independently.
Each person can set their own wake-up time and alarm sound from six options. The alarm will go off at the ideal time within 30 minutes before the set time. The clock has no snooze button which could be a great feature for the hard core snoozers.
In addition to the basic sleep phase alarm, the aXbo has other interesting features. It has a PowerNap function for taking a midday nap without entering deep sleep. The aXbo also includes three nature chillout sounds that help you to fall asleep.
Your sleep patterns can be downloaded to your computer with the included USB cable and analyzed in aXbo research software. This can be a great help for analyzing how sports or different meal times affect your sleep.
Buy it from Amazon:
A typical night's sleep consists of different sleep phases. Sleep cycles from light to deep sleep several times in a night. Deep sleep is essential for feeling refreshed in the morning, but waking up in the middle of a deep sleep phase feels horrible. It can also leave you tired for the morning.
Sleep cycle alarm clocks try to sense when you are sleeping lightly for a easier wake up. This is usually done by motion sensors. When sleeping lightly your body will move around. This can be detected by the sensors and the alarm clock will go off if it's nearly your waking up time.
Sleep Cycle alarm clock for the iPhone will do exactly this by utilizing the iPhone's accelerometer. The alarm has a 30 minute alarm window during which it will try to wake you up from light sleep.
For $0,99 the Sleep Cycle alarm clock is a bargain. What's sad is that it cannot be used with an iPod Touch. Also, the iPhone should be connected to a charger during the night.
Wake-up lights are based on a clever idea. They simulate a natural sunrise by gradually increasing the light in the morning. The light will increase for 30 minutes before you wake up. In theory, your body will react to the light and make you less sleepy.
This is an advantage especially in winter when there's not enough natural light. I also think you can sense the light through your sleep and mentally prepare for waking up.
Philips has a couple of really cool wake-up lights. Philips HF3480 is the basic model which has FM radio and 4 nature sounds. It looks sleek and it can also be used as light. Philips HF3490 is an advanced model with iPod dock so you can play your favourite music at morning.
According to Amazon's reviews some find the light very helpful in the morning, while others don't feel any more energetic. It depends on the person and the conditions the light is used in. Both wake-up lights are still good alarm clocks.
These are some interesting concepts for alarm clocks. They are not available for purchase, although I'm sure each of them would have a market.
Carpet Alarm Clock
Carpet Alarm Clock designed by Sofie Collin & Gustav Lanberg is a small mat with some clever electronics. The design is simple: to turn the alarm off you need to step on to the carpet. ...Which requires you to get up from bed.
The carpet has a lcd clock. I guess it could easily have a scale too.
Source:
GeekSugar.
The Glo Pillow
The Glo Pillow concept from 2007 resembles those gradually brightening wake-up lights. In this concept the light comes from the pillow. The pillow uses a LED fabric under the pillow cover, even capable of showing the time.
The light starts to brighten 40 minutes before the alarm, gently stimulating your brain to start up.
Source:
talk2myShirtSilence
Silence is a concept of
Johan Brengesjö's. It's basically a rubber ring you wear at night. At morning, the ring will vibrate and gently wake you up.
A shake of hand will activate snoozing. However, each snooze requires a larger movement of your hand, eventually forcing you to wake up.
This design is very handy because the alarm won't wake up your spouse or the neighbors. Some of us require a 100dB alarm to come back from the feather islands, but a vibrating ring might also work.
The Silence Alarm Clock won a silver medal at
IDEA '08 awards.
