Alarm Clocks : Moving With The Times
Some may hate alarm clocks, but the vast majority of people could not get by without them. They have become a critical to the way people structure their lives, and thus for the world we live in to function properly.
Alarm clocks have not always been a necessity though. Not so long ago, most people did not have access to clocks, let alone alarm clocks. The first mechanical clocks in Europe, very large devices too big for homes, appeared in the 14th century, and it was not until the 17th century that the first household clocks, sometimes with alarms, came into use.
Even then they were still relatively rare, and it took until the 1870s before bedside alarms became commonplace. Those early mechanical alarm clocks have evolved into the electronic devices that we use today. For example, the first electronic snooze alarms hit the market in 1959. Other less successful ideas, such an alarm that woke people by pulling on their big toes, were also tried.
People can now choose from a wide array of alarms that offer a lot more styles and features. Popular alarm clock features these days include…
- The ability to set and save multiple alarm times.
- Remote controls so that the alarm can be turned off from a distance.
- Go to sleep alarms to supplement wake up ones.
One significant change in recent years has been option of attaching MP3 players to alarm clocks. Therefore, it is now possible for people to wake up to sounds of their favorite artists and bands. Still, even with the addition of cool functions such as this, the traditional alarm clock has seen a slump in sales.
The reason lies primarily in the proliferation of cell phones in recent years. People are very familiar with, and attached to, their cell phones, and many do not see the reason to have another electronic device in their lives even if alarm clocks offer more features. Surveys show an increasing number of people ditching their alarm clocks and using their cell phones to wake them up.
However, there is no reason to expect the alarm clocks to become completely obsolete just yet. Manufacturers of alarm clocks have recognized the problems they face and are coming up with more and more innovative designs. For example, people can now buy an alarm clock which records body motions throughout the night and selects the optimal time to wake the sleeper (waking in the right sleep phase is much easier).
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