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Ok, this is a bit of a strange one which I came across the other day and just didn’t know what to think. Recognising that many people use the alarm clock function of their mobile phones to wake up in the morning, Smart Valley Software have created a downloadable application to help try and make that sometimes difficult time of the day a little less tricky. HappyWakeUp, which in their own words, is also known as The ArousalClock, aims to provide the user with a calm and relaxing wake up call at exactly the moment when you are stirring to wake up.
According to the creators , their software “inhibits the sleep inertia, tired groggy feeling and confusion in the morning. “ Wow, they’ve clearly seen me trying to wake up, but that’s not all “Every morning may be pleasant with refreshed feeling” [sic] Now that is a claim! Every morning!
So, essentially this piece of software decides when the best time is to wake you by monitoring (literally, listening to) your stirrings in bed for “statistically significant movements” (that they also refer to as arousals – no snickering in the back) during which the creators claim that you are awake, or nearly awake and as such, it’s prime time for being woken. If no arousals are present the HappyWakeUp alarm doesn’t go off, and your normal phone alarm functions as usual.
You may have detected a somewhat cynical tone here and it’s not so much me doubting the effectiveness of this product, though I sleep through most things so I’m not sure why a “soft alarm tone” would be any different, it’s more a general unease at my mobile phone microphone listening to me as I sleep. If anyone wants to send me a Nokia smart phone based on S60 3rd ed FP1 platform and €2 for a one week trial then I will happily guinea-pig it. I’m still not sure I’d particularly want to sleep with it under my pillow though.
Have you tried HappyWakeUp? Did it work like a charm? Or was it as useful as a chocolate teapot? Let us know in the box below, or head over to our forums and have your say!
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Oct 1, 2008 at 09:31:06
This seems to be very interesting. But, what will happen if I want the alarm clock to force me to wake up?
- David.
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:51:02
You just don’t (as far as I can tell) have control of it! If you aren’t stirring, your normal phone alarm goes off. If you wanted to be forced to wake, you’d have to use more traditional methods - a bucket of water over the head, an alarm clock, being kicked out the bed by a disgruntled partner. There’s LOADS of ways to be FORCED to wake up but I dont think The Arousal Clock is one of them…
Cheers
-Ben
Oct 6, 2008 at 14:14:37
The science behind this sounds interesting - but for a sleeplover like me no time is good to get up so I’m not sure it’s much use! Also I don’t like having my mobile on when I’m asleep - it wastes battery and I always forget to put it in airplane or silent mode…
Oct 6, 2008 at 14:22:46
Wouldn’t silent mode kind of negate the usefulness of an alarm??
I like my sleep far too much as well so im not sure it would work for me either, as i said above tho, still waiting for someone to donate the phone so I can test it out!!