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Ask HN: Help to solve this problem

7 points by zeynalov ↗ HN
My wife and me always argue about alarm clocks. She must wake up 30 minutes later than me, so my phone alarm, makes she crazy, because I wake up after 3-5 minutes ringing alarm. I asked my friends, most of them have the same problem. They say they would buy a product that wakes only selected person and doesnt disturb others. I thought about different ideas about that but non of them are perfect. ( wirelessly effecting to brain cells of a particular person, vibrating clocks on body etc.) what do you think, how could this problem be solved?

20 comments

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rikacomet
How about a vibrating alarm clock http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-wake-up-with-vibratin...
zeynalov
I tried to sleep with my watch to see if I would sleep with a vibrating watch if it would exist. I saw that it's very uncomfortable to sleep with a watch. And existing vibrating watches aree too expensive I think. Also vibrating gadgets make noise.
rikacomet
well, thats a very bad situation you are in. I can imagine, how one wouldn't like to disturb his/her most beloved one. Think it through, whether a vibrating watch is your thing, or just your phone and her phone as well. Or perhaps, try headphones, my cousin use to wake up to songs, and if you only have headphones, you won't wake up your partner.
stevekemp
A few years ago I was living with a light-sleeper, and I was doing some commuting which involved early mornings.

To get up and avoid disturbing her I bought a "vibrating alarm clock for the deaf". Put it under the pillow, and it woke me up and left her sleeping. Definitely a good purchase.

rikacomet
I'm taken! why didn't I thought that how the heck did deaf people wake up for work .. really, I had no idea how difficult it is for those of them who work.
pmtarantino
I think there are a few ways to wake up something without sound. You could do a little machine that poke you until you wake up, or throw a glass of water to your face (although it could miss it you move too much) or something like that. Anyway, I think it is a good question and could get more answres in Reddit :D
btilly
Design an alarm pillow. Have it slowly escalate so that it wakes you with the minimum necessary signal.

If you're like me, you'll want it to be controlled wirelessly from across the room so that you have to get out of bed to actually turn it off.

edferda
What about a sleep mask, that turns on some lights right in your eyes, of course soft light or make it gradually increase in intensity, but this may only work if you are a light sleeper and any stimuli wakes you up. I can also think of changing the temperature of the sleep mask, get it to be sufficiently hot or cold to wake you up.
ackkchoo
You could use something like this: http://www.fitbit.com/flex

Wraps around the wrist, and has an alarm that vibrates so that (theoretically) only you wake up.

vosper
Put your phone alarm on vibrate and put it under your pillow, or in the pillow case if you thrash around in your sleep. the vibration won't travel far enough to disturb someone else, but it'll wake you up.
ragincajun
Take ackkchoo's advice with the vibrating wrist alarm and wrap it around your wife's wrist once she falls asleep. That way, she gets pissed off, slaps you, and wakes you out of your deep slumber instantly.

Problem solved.

Cybermack
- Hybrid bed with memory foam and sleepmaster combined that only vibrates on the side you sleep on - Appeal to your senses depending on which side you sleep on. Spray of water device, touch/smack in he face, smell of waffles, sounds that appeal to individualy (raindrops, sensual voice, etc) - Hire a butler to wake you up independently if you are rich - Get into a fight with your spouse and sleep in different bedrooms
sensosam
Both go to bed 30 mins earlier so she gets the same amount of sleep? Or alternatively, suggest that you start going for a jog/whatever together in the mornings so she has an incentive to wake up the same time as you.

Sorry that it's not the most high-tech of solutions. I could probably make an app for monitoring both of those if it helps :-S

jlengrand
My parents had the same problem and kinda solved it by using light alarm clocks. As they sleep back to back, having light one side doesn't wake the other up.

I'd definitely not wake up only with light though, I am far too much of a deep sleeper :s

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natural-Sunrise-Alarm-Clock-Simulato...

Coupled with nature sounds, it might be perfect :).