Project:AlarmClock

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Revision as of 13:52, 11 November 2010 by Jonty (talk | contribs)
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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.

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?
  • 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.
  • Detect if someone is actually in the bed, and cancel the alarm if not. No more irritating the neighbors when you go away.