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(Tech) Can't Get Up? Wake Up And Find The Clocky
U.K. Guardian ^ | March 26, 2005 | Ian Sample

Posted on 03/26/2005 9:45:06 AM PST by srm913

Can't get up? Wake up and find the Clocky Ian Sample, science correspondent It looks annoying, like a furry swiss roll on wheels. Even its name is irritating: Clocky. But that's nothing compared with what it does. Clocky is surely the most infuriating wake-up call ever devised.

Dreamt up by a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it works like this: You hit the snooze button because you are desperate for a few more minutes' sleep. Clocky then rolls off the bedside table and wheels around the bedroom floor bumping into things, before settling on a place to hide.

"When the alarm clock sounds again, the sleeper must get out of bed and search for it," said Gauri Nanda, a research associate at MIT.

"This ensures that the person is fully awake before turning it off."

Ms Nanda hit upon the idea after struggling to rise in the mornings. "I've been known to hit the snooze bar for up to two hours or even accidentally turn it off. I've known people who put the alarm clock in the living room, but then forget to set it before going to sleep.

"Having the alarm clock hide from me was just the most obvious way I could think of to get out of bed."

Ms Nanda gave her clock a furry covering in the hope it would look endearing and stop people throwing it out of the window in anger.

A built-in microprocessor ensures that Clocky rolls off in a new direction and makes a series of different turns, so that its hiding place changes each morning. Because it uses simple technology, MIT says the clock, which has yet to go into production, would cost less than £15.

Ms Nanda has plans to make a second generation of more intelligent Clockies. If two people sharing a room needed to get up at different times, two Clockies could sound different alarms and even gang up on a serial oversleeper by sounding their alarms simultaneously.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Technical
KEYWORDS: clocky
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That would be a bad investment for me. Clocky would end up in the microwave.
1 posted on 03/26/2005 9:45:06 AM PST by srm913
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To: srm913

I'd be the first one up on charges for "Clocky abuse".


2 posted on 03/26/2005 9:49:15 AM PST by thoughtomator
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To: srm913

Oooh, they've got to get this thing on the market ASAP...I know 3 people who would LOVE this for Christmas. :-)


3 posted on 03/26/2005 9:51:01 AM PST by CarolTX (Onward through the fog)
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To: srm913; Tijeras_Slim

Looks like something I made this morning.

4 posted on 03/26/2005 9:51:16 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: srm913
I have never understood the "need" for this sort of thing.
If people don't want to get up, why have an alarm clock at all?
5 posted on 03/26/2005 9:57:58 AM PST by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are ignorance, stupidity and hydrogen)
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To: srm913
I have never understood the "need" for this sort of thing.
If people don't want to get up, why have an alarm clock at all?
6 posted on 03/26/2005 9:58:05 AM PST by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are ignorance, stupidity and hydrogen)
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To: srm913
oh great! So it hides from me then my kitties start chasing it everywhere!

I do need one though...

7 posted on 03/26/2005 10:04:53 AM PST by Americanchild
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To: srm913

Here's a more effective method. Feed your dogs first thing in the morning when you wake up. After a couple weeks of this you'll never oversleep again. Whether you like it or not you'll be awakened by whining dogs hungry for their breakfast.


8 posted on 03/26/2005 10:26:40 AM PST by elmer fudd
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To: srm913; Neets; Darksheare; scott0347; timpad; KangarooJacqui; The Scourge of Yazid; ...

Now who couldn't use one of these?

:-)


9 posted on 03/26/2005 11:02:41 AM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat

When I have to get up at two to be to work by four this thing could come in very handy.


10 posted on 03/26/2005 11:08:40 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing!? Oh right, that would be me. Back to work.)
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To: tiamat; Publius6961; srm913; CarolTX; Americanchild; martin_fierro; thoughtomator; Darksheare
Zombies, perhaps?

(Undead Smiley.)

-good times, G.J.P. (Jr.)

11 posted on 03/26/2005 11:09:53 AM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham (Protagoras was the leading SOPHIST of his day. Think about it.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
It wouldn't last a week with me.

I get nasty when I am sleep deprived.

Sooner or later, "Clocky" would have a "discussion" with Mr. Hammer.
12 posted on 03/26/2005 11:12:15 AM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

Good tag-line!

:-)


13 posted on 03/26/2005 11:12:55 AM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: martin_fierro; SeaDragon; xsmommy

Oh man! I need that! When's it going to production??


14 posted on 03/26/2005 11:19:17 AM PST by RikaStrom
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To: tiamat
Thanks!

I'll chew on it.

:0)

-good times, G.J.P. (Jr.)

15 posted on 03/26/2005 11:19:59 AM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham (Protagoras was the leading SOPHIST of his day. Think about it.)
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To: elmer fudd

I use that dog method--works fine except on the weekend.

As well, the springer has learned to get me up to feed him, then if I go back to sleep or out, he swears to my wife that he has not been fed until she gives him second breakfasts.


16 posted on 03/26/2005 11:30:48 AM PST by Wisconsin
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To: tiamat; srm913; Neets; Darksheare; scott0347; timpad; KangarooJacqui; The Scourge of Yazid
People with retrievers will never sleep again.


17 posted on 03/26/2005 11:50:18 AM PST by Lady Jag (Honor and dignity)
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To: Lady Jag

You're right!

LOL!


18 posted on 03/26/2005 11:57:21 AM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat
Sooner or later, "Clocky" would have a "discussion" with Mr. Hammer.

Mr. Clocky, meet Mr. Glocky...

19 posted on 03/26/2005 12:02:55 PM PST by talleyman (E=mc2 (before taxes))
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To: tiamat
"Now who couldn't use one of these"

I've got three dogs, one cat, one wife and two teenage daughters.

I need one of these like I need one less bathroom.

20 posted on 03/26/2005 12:05:01 PM PST by NicknamedBob (They did NOT win. --They chose Death, and they will have it. -- We choose Life, and we will have it.)
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To: talleyman

LOL!

Hard on the dry-wall, though!


21 posted on 03/26/2005 12:05:31 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: NicknamedBob

LOL!

It's a wonder you get any sleep at all, NnBob!


22 posted on 03/26/2005 12:06:30 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat

I don't even want to think about what cats would do with it, but it can't be good.


23 posted on 03/26/2005 12:10:27 PM PST by Lady Jag (Honor and dignity)
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To: tiamat

Not me. I would end up stumbling around half asleep, clock hunting with a loaded shotgun.


24 posted on 03/26/2005 12:26:00 PM PST by OSHA (Beware! For they have discovered DEATH in the Constitution and have enshrined it into law.)
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To: tiamat; NicknamedBob; talleyman
Elvis Presley:

It always works for me. A-huh!

(Attempts to shoot "Clocky" with silver pistol. Misses, and winds up shooting a hole through TiVo.)

25 posted on 03/26/2005 12:29:22 PM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham (Protagoras was the leading SOPHIST of his day. Think about it.)
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To: tiamat
"It's a wonder you get any sleep at all, NnBob!"

Some days I don't get much. Last night I went to bed at two, and got up at six. I think I could use a nap.

But I don't worry about it. -- No sense losing sleep over insomnia.

26 posted on 03/26/2005 12:33:25 PM PST by NicknamedBob (They did NOT win. --They chose Death, and they will have it. -- We choose Life, and we will have it.)
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To: OSHA

Again, hard on the dry-wall! LOL!


27 posted on 03/26/2005 12:49:18 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: NicknamedBob

Tend to have problems that way myself.

No fun!


28 posted on 03/26/2005 12:51:29 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

LOL!


29 posted on 03/26/2005 12:52:00 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat

30 posted on 03/26/2005 1:00:43 PM PST by OSHA (Beware! For they have discovered DEATH in the Constitution and have enshrined it into law.)
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To: OSHA

ROFLMAO!

That's good!

:-)


31 posted on 03/26/2005 1:02:02 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat; srm913; PhilDragoo; Liz; onyx; Happy2BMe; potlatch; devolve; MEG33; Grampa Dave; ...


From the article:

Can't get up? Wake up and find the Clocky Ian Sample, science correspondent It looks annoying, like a furry swiss roll on wheels. Even its name is irritating: Clocky. But that's nothing compared with what it does. Clocky is surely the most infuriating wake-up call ever devised.

Dreamt up by a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it works like this: You hit the snooze button because you are desperate for a few more minutes' sleep. Clocky then rolls off the bedside table and wheels around the bedroom floor bumping into things, before settling on a place to hide.

"When the alarm clock sounds again, the sleeper must get out of bed and search for it," said Gauri Nanda, a research associate at MIT.

"This ensures that the person is fully awake before turning it off."


haha! I wonder how many of these DON'T survive after the FIRST time it goes off?

I can imagine folks flinging this into the wall the first morning. haha!


32 posted on 03/26/2005 2:44:54 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: martin_fierro

Until it's Smith & Wesson proof, it won't be at the Slim house.


33 posted on 03/26/2005 3:16:02 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: MeekOneGOP

34 posted on 03/26/2005 3:17:03 PM PST by Smartass (BUSH & CHENEY to 2008 Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
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To: Smartass
hahaaaaa! :^D

35 posted on 03/26/2005 3:18:26 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: srm913

...beepbeepbeepWHACK!

...thud!thunk!thunk!thunk!thunk!...

BANG!


36 posted on 03/26/2005 3:24:16 PM PST by RichInOC (...sometimes, stupidity is its own punishment...but not as often as it should be.)
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To: srm913
"When the alarm clock sounds again, the sleeper must get out of bed and search for it," said Gauri Nanda, a research associate at MIT.

"It" meaning "a gun". ;)

Ms Nanda gave her clock a furry covering in the hope it would look endearing and stop people throwing it out of the window in anger.

LOL. Yeah, that'll stop 'em.

Clockies could ... even gang up on a serial oversleeper by sounding their alarms simultaneously.

I just have to laugh at this.

Clocky #1: That's the fifth time this week he's overslept.
Clocky #2: I know... let's teach him a lesson.
Clocky #3: You mean... gang up on him?
Clocky #2. Yeah.
Clocky #1: Normally I don't approve of this sort of thing, but I suppose we have no choice. All right, everyone, get into formation! Be ready to use evasive maneuvers! He's not gonna like this.
Clockies 1,2,3: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
Clocky #3: Run for your lives! He's coming after us!
Clocky #1: Oh no!! He got 2! Not the baseball bat! NO!!
Clocky #3: Oh, the inhumanity of it all!!!

No, I don't have anything better to do than write Clocky script scenarios. ;)

37 posted on 03/26/2005 5:20:59 PM PST by 4mycountry ("No, Samus, prioritize! Getting off of an exploding ship is more important than fighting a dragon!")
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To: 4mycountry

You should draw a cartoon for this.


38 posted on 03/26/2005 5:35:32 PM PST by srm913
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To: srm913

Hmmm... I actually do draw comics. Maybe I will. ^_^


39 posted on 03/26/2005 5:53:51 PM PST by 4mycountry ("No, Samus, prioritize! Getting off of an exploding ship is more important than fighting a dragon!")
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To: 4mycountry

Good!
Be sure to scan it and post it on this thread later! ;^)


40 posted on 03/26/2005 5:55:23 PM PST by srm913
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To: MeekOneGOP

Pretty cute idea isn't it Meek? I'd buy one just to see it work!!


41 posted on 03/26/2005 6:57:35 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: 4mycountry

LOL, good post!


42 posted on 03/26/2005 6:59:02 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: potlatch
hehe! Yeah, pretty cute. I don't use an alarm. I just get up early.

I really got a kick outta this thing. People kickin' it around and
such, lol!

:^)


43 posted on 03/26/2005 7:06:00 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: MeekOneGOP
I just get up early

LOL, that's an understatement if I ever heard one!!

44 posted on 03/26/2005 7:25:27 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: potlatch
LOL!

That's funny. We are in shift change mode now, PL.

As usual, I'm loggin' out as you're loggin' in.

A ten HUT!!! :^D


45 posted on 03/26/2005 7:37:59 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: RikaStrom
Yes you do, without a question but then phsycomutt would probably eat it and then where would you be?

:-)

46 posted on 03/27/2005 11:51:15 AM PST by SeaDragon
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To: tiamat; Lady Jag
LOL!

I can just imagine what my nutty Chocolate Lab would do with Clocky.

47 posted on 03/27/2005 12:04:23 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: Lady Jag
BTW, that's the cutest little Yellow Lab puppy . . .

Is it yours?

I almost got a little 12 week old Yellow pup last weekend - a lady in our Hunt Club brought the last two pups in her HRCh bitch's litter to the training session. My little Choc 4 yr old spay played with them very nicely -- they swarmed all over her, and she crouched down so that they could wrestle over her back, then rolled over and grinned all over her honest Lab face. She didn't even care when they tried to nurse!

I liked the smaller one - very sweet little boy with a very fine-boned face. I don't like great big Labs.

48 posted on 03/27/2005 12:08:00 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: AnAmericanMother

That's a beautiful dog!


49 posted on 03/27/2005 12:18:30 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: tiamat

She's a great little girl -- she is my first dog, and now I wouldn't have anything but a Lab. So friendly, so intelligent, so eager to please -- and so full of boundless energy. They can be a little overwhelming if you don't give them a job to do . . . but fortunately there are plenty of opportunities locally for Labs to do agility, flyball, hunting retriever, etc.


50 posted on 03/27/2005 12:19:58 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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