I would like a alarm clock that jumps five minute increments when you try to set the alarm time. If you really want to wake up at a strange time, such as 8:01, :02, :03, or :04, the most you would be off is by two minutes.

I'm sick of having to press the stupid minute button 45 times when I want to change my alarm time from 8:00 am to 4:45 pm. I can see the value in having the minute button proceed at one minute intervals when setting the actual time -- you may want to actually know the current time down to the minute. But for the alarm, it's ridiculous.

Also, it would be nice to have alarm times like "15 minutes from now" or "45 minutes from now".
-- lawpoop, Oct 08 2004

Backward alarm clock, annotation to http://www.halfbake...rd_20alarm_20clocks
See my annotation dated 9/9/01. [LoriZ, Oct 15 2004]

(?) Easy alarm setting example http://www.sony.jp/...-CA2_J_1/index.html
Especially for Po. (Ignore the Japanese download request) [Ling, Oct 15 2004]

Yep. And so easy to do. The normal hour adjust button needs help too, as it'd be just lovely to have this incrementable in reverse if you need to get up an hour earlier, rather than pressing 23 times for the next 0700.

Perhaps a pair of minute adjusters, coarse and fine. I view this as a sort of centre-weighted rocker switch. Left for 15 minute increments, right for the ones after you get to the closest 15.

But having said that, why not a bidirectional minute adjuster as well using the same switch.

<rant> Most consumer goods user interfaces are designed by ?who knose? rather than the poor buggers what have to use them. </rant>
-- phlogiston, Oct 08 2004


I was thinking the exact same thing last night.

Sometimes though, when I have to wake up really early at say 04:45, I treat myself to an extra minute in bed by setting the alarm to 04:46.
-- spiritualized, Oct 08 2004


I guess you're in Europe. Here in the US, most clocks are on the 12 hour timetable (or whatever you call it), so the most you hit an hour button is 11 times.
-- lawpoop, Oct 08 2004


However, they also include the AM / PM deal.

My old Emerson alarm clock has no hour or minute buttons; it has 'fast forward' 'slow forward,' 'fast reverse,' and 'slow reverse' buttons. As well as 2 alarms. I fight for every minute I can in my morning routine, and so love waking up at weird times.
-- RayfordSteele, Oct 09 2004


I'll remain neutral. I haven't used an alarm clock this year at all... except for, maybe, two or three times, so I'll leave the voting for those actually dealing with the alarm setting business.
-- Pericles, Oct 09 2004


Gosh darnit to heck, I thought I remembered where a link was describing WHY the sleep is at 9-minute intervals. Has something to do with the old-world technology preventing any other reasonable interval for re-alarm.
-- Letsbuildafort, Oct 09 2004


Same as [Rayfordsteele] -- my Westclox has 'fast forward' 'slow forward,' 'fast reverse,' and 'slow reverse' buttons. This idea is thus essentially baked.
-- phundug, Oct 10 2004


My theory is that user interfaces for small consumer goods are actually designed by hummingbirds. Or by something else with a single small pointy body part and great reflexes but neither wrists nor opposable thumbs.

I'd prefer a simple, large, bi-directional knob (that can be turned in a circular motion) over any combination of slow or fast push buttons.
-- jutta, Oct 10 2004


i'd like a numeric keypad. just punch in the time.
-- xclamp, Oct 10 2004


[RayfordSteele] "I fight for every minute in my morning routine"

Yes, I do exactly that. I currently get up at 8:32 am every morning, leaving me *exactly* enough time to get to work 2 minutes late.
-- ChewTheBeef, Oct 11 2004


I set times on my Palm compatable in 5 minute increments and it can do alarms, so one of these can already implement your idea.
-- Aristotle, Oct 11 2004


I like the idea of being able to set the numbers of hours after which one wants to get up.+
-- nomadic_wonderer, Oct 14 2004


I've got a Sony radio alarm that is built like a cube. It's my second purchase of that type (the first lasted over 15 years).
The reason I bought it again was that it has a big rotating dial overlaid on the clock face, which is used to set the alarm. No digits to play around with - perfect.
-- Ling, Oct 14 2004


snap, Ling - but mine is a Bush. its the easiest way to set the alarm that I have ever come across.

clockwise for minutes and anti-clock for hours. (or vice-versa)
-- po, Oct 14 2004


you all know the answer is simple. clockwork alarm clock. they do all these things.
-- etherman, Oct 14 2004


[po], no, mine has one turn for 12 hours. No individual minutes or hours. The big dial has a pointer to show the alarm point. It can be turned either way.
Additionally, it is battery powered, with separate batteries for the clock and radio. Link.
-- Ling, Oct 15 2004



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