Rude or abrupt awakening from sleep can cause a condition called sleep inertia which is a state of impaired alertness that may interfere with the ability to perform mental or physical tasks or a person’s tendency of wanting to return to sleep again.
Traditional alarm clocks awaken people from their night’s sleep or short naps by sound or vibration. Digital alarm clocks make a loud buzzing or beeping sound to wake a sleeper, while novelty alarm clocks can speak, laugh, sing, or play sounds from nature. Some alarm-clocks have radios that can be set to start playing at specified times, and are known as clock radios. Most mobile phones and digital watches have alarm clock functions to turn on or make sounds at a specific time. All these alarm-clocks are known to interrupt your sleep abruptly.
Scientific studies on sleep have shown that sleep stage at awakening is an important factor in amplifying sleep inertia. Alarm clocks involving sleep stage monitoring appeared on the market in 2005. Using sensing technologies such as EEG electrodes or accelerometers, these alarm clocks are supposed to wake people only from light sleep are another technology meant to mediate these effects.
Philips Wake-Up Light is an “alarm clock” which helps your body wake naturally by slowly filling the room with a sun like glow, mimicking actual sunrise, until the room is filled with a gentle yellow light. By the time light has filled the room your chosen natural sound completes the wake up experience, leaving you fresh and energized for the day ahead.
There are 10 light intensities of the Wake-up light which can be personalized as the sensitivity to light differs for each person. The higher the intensity, the lesser the time needed to become fully awake. At the set wake up time a gentle beep plays to complete the wake up experience. The sound gradually increases in volume within one and a half minute. There is a snooze button to terminate the process.
The Philips Wake-Up Light will cost you $69.99.
