Air sack alarm wakes you or else!
By Marc Perton 
posted Nov 23rd 2005 10:10AM
posted Nov 23rd 2005 10:10AM
If you're into extreme sleeping and
don't want to lose your job for showing up late every day, you may just find the ¥98,000 ($800) air sack alarm to be a
worthwhile purchase. The device uses a compressor, hose and inflatable cushion to make your bed so uncomfortable that
you won't have any choice but to get up. Once the alarm is triggered, the cushion inflates and deflates at seven-second
intervals. The alarm is sold by Japan's JR East train line, which claims this setup is actually used to keep conductors
from oversleeping, which may help to explain why Japanese trains are always on time — and why you'll never get one of
those dudes to crack a smile.
[Via the Ferret]
oh god I need this.
So now when the covers inflate I have a great excuse to give the missus.
Saw this last year on Hey Spring of Trivia. They showed the train company's break room in Japan, where all the beds had them installed. They also did a mini-expiriment with 20 people and it didn't fail to wake them all. Now only if they could integrate snooze...
Technologies for assisting deaf people similar to this Japanese pillow have been available for quite some time. Often, alarm clocks for the deaf and hard of hearing have vibration 'pucks' that go under the pillow and shake you awake in the AM. Many also feature strobe features, and bright pulsing displays to encourage awakening. I'm sure if these were sold in Radio Shack they'd be hot sellers! Check out http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=13533&deep=2&trail=22,13436
Maybe their trains aren't privatised by companies that rip off their customers because they have a monopoly.
Sorry to rain on your otherwise very good article.
re 4: You can also use most cellphones vibrate under your pillow as an alarm clock
That shit would not wake me up.
This is all very nice and well in Japan where they sleep in futons and (other than sumo wrestlers...) don't have 200 lbs. lazy a**es.
I guess in the US, where they use 8 inch matresses they would need a bigger pump, one loud enough to wake you up by itself.
RE post 8.
you know, most japanese DONT sleep on futons anymore...
" most japanese DONT sleep on futons anymore..."
Hmm..."Many" do not sleep in futons...I don't know if I'd say MOST don't. I certainly do see futon shops all over the place. Wooden beds definitely are popular, but most (mine for example) are actually just an 8 - 10 inch high platform that you lay a 1 - 2 inch thick futon on so you don't lay right on the floor. This thing looks like it would shake you pretty good through one of those.
I agree however that if this devices oscillations are filtered through a sealy posturpedic...you might just keep snoozin'. It might be better to place an inflatable pad under the mattress that inflats from one side to the other, and goes up maybe ten inches, which should effectively roll you out of bed.
Bonk!
Even if you don't wake up, it can certainly be marketed as garunteed to 'Get you out of bed' in the morning...