by Lenna Gonya

Created on: November 08, 2009

I am a gadget junky. If I had the space and the money, I would probably try everything that comes on the market. And, from the looks of the local garage sales and flea markets, I'm not the only one afflicted by this. While most new gadgets involve computers, games, cell phones and kitchen products, there are a couple of alarm clocks that are just too good not to try out.

I have a problem with waking up in the morning, and I recently stumbled upon a website full of popular gadgets. Practical Household Gadgets, http://www.household-gadgets.com/ that has two wake-up devices that may or may not work, but are definitely unique.

The Sunrise Clock is a clock with a dome on top that houses a 60 watt bulb. At night, it lulls you to sleep with white noise and, as the light from the dome dims, it simulates a sunset. So far, so good. However, in the morning, it is supposed to awaken you gradually and gently by the increasing of the light from the dome, simulating sunrise, and a gentle humming noise, so that you awaken on your own, relaxed and refreshed. Well, I can sleep on a chaise lounge on a beach, face up, with a train going past, so I really doubt that this will work for me. But the other perks are, that it doubles as a gentle reading light, and, also the glow is supposed to alleviate midwinter depression from lack of sunshine.

The second clock is more promising, The Sonic Boom Clock. The clock looks fairly normal, except the advertisement states that the alarm is about as loud as a sonic boom. On top of the noise factor, it also comes with a small round battery operated wireless disk that you put under your mattress. So, when it's time to get up and the sonic boom hits, the bed actually shakes. Now, I think this is really innovative. If you don't have a family member or friend to come in and roust you out in the morning, this just might do the trick. Both the shaker and the alarm can be used together or separately, and, seriously, if you have a hearing problem, the shaker alarm would be really beneficial. Also, the intensity of the boom can be regulated.

However, since I have actually slept through minor earthquakes and major thunderstorms, this might still not be enough.

It would probably be a good idea to know how loud the setting is exactly on this alarm, especially if you live in an apartment building with thin walls. Neighbors just might find the sound of an explosion a little unnerving early in the morning.

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