Australian Penthouse

From the sublime to the ridiculous—via the truly annoying and over-the-top—Trevor Treharne reveals the pick of slumber stoppers…


Flying Alarm Clock  $19.95
Several modern novelty alarm clocks are designed along the premise of annoying yourself into the woken world. Nothing illustrates this phenomenon more accurately than the Flying Alarm Clock. The siren sounds as a background to the clock’s helicopter blades rising into the air. Not until you re-fit the blade attachment to the unit can you
stop the morning madness.
www.ozgadgets.com.au

Banclock Alarm  $75
With the world gripped by an increasingly over-exposed financial crisis, the need to make sure you make it into work on time and save your pennies has been manifested in the Banclock Alarm. Save time and money with this gadget, which can only be turned off if you feed your spare cash into its slot. This Japanese design is made for those trying to up their thriftiness, and is available in blue, red, white and yellow.
www.tokyoflash.com

The Zen Timepiece  $286
It might look like a bowl for your keys, but the costly Zen Timepiece is designed to create “beautifully complex tones” to awaken you slowly and in the most natural circumstances possible, via a gradual increase in gongs, for those who prefer a more gentle touch in the morning. Bonus: this clock isn’t just a wake-up tool; the Zen Timepiece can also be used when practicing yoga or meditating.
www.now-zen.com

Laser Target Alarm Clock  $39.95
Most of us have probably felt like shooting someone for waking us too early, and this target practice clock provides just that opportunity. More than blurred and crusty, half-asleep eyes are needed to silence this electric rooster. Co-ordination is required to fire a hand-held ‘laser’ beam at the exact centre of the target. Move the unit around your room to improve your shooting skills.
www.latestbuy.com.au

Rubik’s Cube Alarm Clock  $19.95
Awake the 80s geek within with this retro Rubik’s Cube-style alarm. Don’t worry, you don’t have to solve the interminable Cube from scratch to stop the squawking, this sleep-slasher’s design is purely for aesthetic purposes. With an alarm, standard time, date and temperature readings, place this baby under your Wham! poster.
www.latestbuy.com.au

TIME FOR DESIGN

Many aspiring designers have alarm clock pipe dreams (so to speak), so keep your eyes peeled for these yet-to-be-produced alarm clocks of the future…

• Wake n’ Bacon (mathlete.com):
Some say bacon is the ultimate sunrise aroma, so why not awake to the smell of pork with this wooden, pig-shaped alarm?

• Stand Up To Wake Up (yankodesign.com): Another of those alarms to get you moving, this bedside carpet mat displays the time, and only your feet can halt the racket.

• Steampunk Alarm Clock (boingboing.net): Want an alarm clock from the Stephenson’s Rocket era? Check out the Steampunk; it’s encased in a cool vintage clock body.

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