5 Hi-tech ways to wake up

These creative alarm clocks may just get you out of bed

BY NICOLETTE EMMINO

For many, the sound of the alarm clock signifies the beginning of a long, hard-working day. Some may even hit the snooze button many times before actually rising, while others may sleep through the disruptive clamor completely. Well, here are five alarm clocks that may wake even the deepest sleepers.

1. LARK Silent Alarm Clock and Sleep Sensor

Wake up without all of the noise. (Via LARK)

This alarm clock is perfect for couples or roommates that wake up at different times. This wearable alarm clock is not as severe a wake up as a traditional buzzing alarm. Instead, wear it around your wrist and wake to its vibration technology. The LARK Silent Alarm Clock comprises three parts: a motor that nudges you silently, a messenger that can transfer your sleep data and settings to your smart phone, and a sensor that monitors your sleep quality and patterns. It can also benefit those hard of hearing who are unable to hear the buzzing of a regular alarm clock.

2. Wake N’ Bacon

The smell of bacon will get you out of bed. (Via Matty Sallin)

I don’t know about you, but I love waking up to the aroma of bacon in the morning. Designer Matty Sallin discovered a way to wake up to that scent every morning with an alarm clock that gradually wakes you up while cooking your bacon. Usually, an alarm clock goes off when signals are sent to the speakers. This is what creates that annoying buzzing. Instead, Sallin re-routed those wires to a pin on a microchip that sends the signals to halogen light bulbs.

Before you go to sleep, place precooked bacon strips in the Teflon baking pan and set your time. Four minutes after the timer goes off, your room will become enveloped in the pleasant smell of bacon, waking you up to breakfast!

3. Snuz Luz Wi-Fi Donation Alarm Clock

Donating your money to an organization you hate may motivate you to wake up. (Via ThinkGeek)

How would you like to give away your money to your least favorite organization?

Well, if you don’t wake up, your alarm clock will make that donation for you! This Wi-Fi Donation alarm clock connects to your online bank accounts and donates a set amount of money to an organization that you dislike every time you hit the snooze button.

To use, just plug in the clock and connect it to your network using your Wi-Fi or the RJ45 jack on the device. Use your web browser to configure, select your bank, organization, amount of donation, and set your alarm. Then, hope you wake up on time!

4. IQ Alarm Clock

Answer some IQ questions to turn off your alarm. (Via Oliver Sha)

No snooze button on this alarm clock concept. Instead, answer one to three complex questions and brain teasers to stop the buzzing. The user must answer all the questions correctly to turn it off. Designer Oliver Sha even made sure you could not easily power it off. It’s equipped with a battery so difficult to open that in order to shut it off in the morning, you must hold the power button for 30 seconds.

We may see this product hit the market, but not as your traditional clock. “I'm leaning toward making this into an app for the iPhone or other smartphones, because they already have the best touchscreens on the market,” said Sha.

So, could it be effective?

According to Sha, “This would be very effective but not so pleasant due to the lack of a snooze button; I can imagine quite a few of these being thrown at the wall.”

5. Rocket Launching Alarm Clock

Can’t wake up? A rocket ship will be ejected from your alarm to help.

This design isn’t exactly “rocket science.” This NASA-like space ship alarm clock wakes you up to a blaring buzzer that’s hard to sleep through. However, if you do, within 10 seconds you will be struck by a rocket ship. Then you can’t turn off the alarm clock until you have placed the rocket back into its home base.

Maybe now you’ll finally wake up! ■