Alarm Clocks : Can They Survive The Challenge Of Cell Phone Alarms?

Some may hate alarm clocks, but the vast majority of people could not live their lives without them. They are necessary for people to structure their lives, and thus the proper functioning of society.

Alarm clocks have not always been a necessity though. Not so long ago, most people did not have access to clocks, never mind alarm clocks. The first mechanical clocks in Europe only appeared in the 14th century, and it was not until the 1600s 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 really started to become popular. Those early mechanical alarm clocks have evolved into the electronic devices of 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...

- Battery backups to ensure they still work in power outages.

- One-touch timers that allow users to set the clock to give them a reminder to go to sleep to in the evenings (and not just wake them up).

- The ability to set and save multiple alarm times.

- Remote controls so that the alarm can be turned off from a distance.

One significant change in recent years has been the addition of the capability to attach iPods and other types of MP3 players to alarm clocks. With so many things that can be downloaded online and put into a MP3 player, it is now possible for people to wake up to sounds of their favorite artists and bands. In spite of all their new functions and features though, the traditional alarm clock has actually been on the decline in recent years.

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.

Even so, there is no reason to expect the alarm clock to go the way of the dinosaur any time soon. As well as those who rely solely on traditional alarm clocks, there is a sizeable amount of people who like to have one at hand as a back-up, as cell phone batteries last just a day or two, and their boss has had the