Project:AlarmClock

Alarm clocks are shit. I want to build one that actually works at a cost that isn't absurd.

No, I do not want to use my phone. I forget to plug it in.

Criteria

• Does not rely on being irritating, should be designed for gradual wakeup.
  • That means no "find the puzzle piece I ejected into orbit" solutions.
• Uses the time signal to set itself, should be aware of DST as a result.
• Stores settings on flash so they're not lost in power cuts.
• Has a programmable wake-up sequence.
• Settings for week and weekend.
• Mains powered, but relatively low power.

Ideas

• Dawn light, use a full-spectrum bulb. Turns on at the start of the wakeup sequence, gradually gets brighter.
  • Allow for plugging in an external lamp instead of a built in lamp?
• Alarm starts to make noise at start of wakeup sequence, gradually getting louder. Possibly with breaks.
• "Cut off" time, at which point the thing goes mental and forces you to get up if you've not turned it off.
  • Does this even need a snooze if you go for gradual wakeup?
• A wireless off button that lives in another room.
  • Maybe unnecessary if it's designed for gradual-wakeup?
  • Maybe just for "Cut off" mode.
• Programmable noises for wakeup sequence. USB upload? SD card?
• Detect if someone is actually in the bed, and cancel the alarm if not. No more irritating the neighbors when you go away.
• Some form of sleep cycle monitoring.
  • Change the alarm to start going off at the correct point in your cycle.
  • Preferably via a method that doesn't require something in the bed with you, or a wristband. Possibly a PIR type sensor, or a camera.
  • For bonus points, allow data export for data porn. Maybe save to the SD card with the sound files on.
    • If we have data export, I'd love to get the data about the time between alarm activation and shutoff over time.
      • And if we're doing data logging over time, add temperature logging in the room. Especially if you can associate that with the quality of the sleep cycle.
• Multiple alarms that can be set on a day-by-day basis
• Configurable via a web-interface (using buttons and shit is painful)
• Sources alarm times from an .ics file (Google calendar etc.)

Less desirable ideas

• A beers made - along the lines of a teas-made but with beer instead of tea; and therefore a fridge instead of a kettle.