3. Another idea I have is to make it binary, for the true geek/l33t h4xx0r, it would be a combination of binary display and lcd, so that you have to make the indicated operation with the binary numbers and get it right or suffer the consequences
Posted at 11:29PM on Feb 18th 2008 by dioxide
4. Most of the time, I wake up in such a sleepy haze, that I think the mysterious sliding switch on my alarm clock actually has to be reprogrammed to shut it off. I guess that's how I justify to myself that I sleep through it all the time and let it buzz for ages.
I love the idea of this clock, but my wife would either shoot me or the clock... Since I sleep between her and the clock, my odds aren't good.
Posted at 11:36PM on Feb 18th 2008 by scooter
5. I used to accomplish the same thing by putting my alarm clock across the room, but this is way cooler! Maybe I should make one that forces me to do floating point. If I can do that in my sleep, I arguably no longer need to be awake.
Posted at 12:20AM on Feb 19th 2008 by Sean
6. I will definitely agree that this idea is pretty genius. : ) I know that I've gotten to the point where I can disable alarm clocks just as easily as I can hit the snooze button; but, I'm in too much of a daze to realize that hitting the off button causes me to fall asleep. Great ability to analyze... huge lack of forethought. XD Forcing me to do math? I'll be sure to be awake after that...
Posted at 3:40AM on Feb 19th 2008 by Zencyde
7. You don't want to do binary arithmetic. At least I don't. It's way too easy, but for most of us mortals, other mathematical operations in binary are not quite second nature.
Converting a decimal number into binary seems to be an easy compromise. Easy to implement, just have a pair of seven segment displays and a row of momentary switches with corresponding LED's. The SSD's display a number, and when you switch on the correct LED's, the alarm stops. You could add a pressure switch that you have to hold (to keep you from dozing off) that mutes it.
I could do this whole thing with a decimal counter and some basic logic. No PIC needed. I consider that a perk.
Posted at 4:10AM on Feb 19th 2008 by ben airy
8. I'm with ben airy/dioxide, the mute button would have to be recessed into the side of the clock to stop you resting something on it. for me though, nothing beats the s.a.d. light on a timeswitch (80 watt daylight spectrum fluorescent light that kicks out about as much light as an open window). light > sound for making you actually wakeful rather than just not asleep.
still, I love the idea- it's like a little tiny bit of dr whatshisname's brain training in the morning, and that's probably a good thing.
Posted at 5:34AM on Feb 19th 2008 by PKM
9. I remember this one site (the link is new dead, sadly) which sold an alarmclock somewhat like this. Instead of making you do math, it launched a little spinning helicopter thing, and wouldn't turn off the alarm until you got out of bed, found the thing, and attached it to the clock again.
10. I've thought of _exactly_ this before...good to see someone's actually done it. :-)
Posted at 11:56AM on Feb 19th 2008 by Dro Kulix
11. Wouldnt it be much easier just getting an alarm with a higher volume?
;]
Posted at 1:39PM on Feb 19th 2008 by Gstreng
12. man, I've been thinking about that! No matter what I do, it seems as if I can figure out how to turn off an alarm clock when I'm half asleep and always end up being late to everything. Gotta try this design. I'd probably need to find some way to mount it so that I can't actually destroy it, design it to be vibration resistant, and protect the power cord.
Posted at 2:03PM on Feb 19th 2008 by threepointone
13. Your work is to be commended, seriously.
However, _large hammer_!!!!
Posted at 2:09PM on Feb 19th 2008 by strider_mt2k
15. Wonderful! Really great.. we all have trouble gettting up and this would be awesome.. course if you integrated it into clocky you might never want to sleep again
http://www.clocky.net/
Hmm.. perhaps a more popular alternative would be to write a flash program for your chumby?
http://www.chumby.com/
Posted at 4:20PM on Feb 19th 2008 by techninja
16. Jesus, I have enough trouble doing math AFTER my first cup of coffee!
At least this isn't as tough as the average CAPTCHA code these days. :D
Posted at 5:59PM on Feb 19th 2008 by Jack Dalton
17. Why not make change the bed with 2 foldaway legs that "disassemble" and drop you on the floor at the right time ? I constantly run into the problem of sleeping through the alarm sound, so I guess I need a little more feedback from my alarm than just sound ?
Posted at 6:45AM on Feb 20th 2008 by Diogo
19. @Jack Dalton: Awesome idea!
I just read up on the chumby and it's an interesting platform.
maybe not 180.00 US interesting, but still really cool.
Posted at 9:50AM on Feb 20th 2008 by strider_mt2k
20. Wouldnt a mute button ruin the point?
Posted at 12:44PM on Feb 20th 2008 by Peter
hack a day serves up a fresh hack each day, every day from around the web and a special how-to hack each week.
All contents copyright © 2008, Hack A Day. All Rights Reserved.
1. Sweet. I might do one...
I'd make that mute button timed, so that you have to solve it within 10 seconds or so and if you don't, it un-mutes permanently (or gives you a second chance and then un-mutes permanently)
Posted at 11:23PM on Feb 18th 2008 by dioxide