Sunrise Alarm Clock

An alarm clock that wakes you up with light instead of sound has changed the way my mornings feel. I keep trying to explain it to people who think an alarm is an alarm. Light starts at a dim warm orange about 30 minutes before the set time and gradually increases to full brightness, simulating a sunrise . It pulls you out of sleep slowly instead of jolting you awake. By the time the backup sound goes off I am already mostly conscious. Transition from sleep to waking doesn't come with the spike of stress that a beeping alarm produces. My clock sits on the nightstand and the light fills enough of the room that even with my eyes closed I can sense the brightness changing. At around $30 for a basic model the cost is comparable to any other alarm clock. The concept is based on research about circadian rhythm and light exposure. Hospitals use a similar principle for patients recovering from surgery, which tells you the science is real.