Laser-based 'clock' shortens beam as wake-up time draws closer
By Darren Murph 
posted January 24th 2010 9:03PM
posted January 24th 2010 9:03PM
posted January 24th 2010 9:03PM
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So what's the point of this?
To amaze people that watch your alarm clock while you sleep?
Sounds quite creepy.
@Gamecheater Or just piss you off when you're suffering from insomnia, a constant reminder that you are losing sleep time.
@Gamecheater
She has options tho,
Either she gets to watch the beam's getting shorter, or the other thing getting longer as one's wake-up time draws near.
@Gamecheater
The point of this is to help people that wake up in the middle of the night and wonder how long until they have to get up.... it is proven that the more you look at the actual time, the harder it is to stay asleep, as you keep waking up and looking at the time... I'm guessing that this laser (loading time) is to help people with this problem and give them a better night sleep...
or to entertain your cats while you sleep...
Only the beam's source point and end point can be observed unless the laser is in a room filled with smoke or dust.
So, in order to determine the length of the beam/time remaining before the alarm goes off, would require one to wake up long enough to compute the distance between source point and end point.
Lame...
@Sofabutt must decent powered red lasers 200mw? can been in the dark, my Green laser at 5mw can be seen clearly at night and in a building at night.
@Murkurie Wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
Last time I used a laser was 10 years ago.
The new lasers these days could give your position away and get you killed in combat.
@Sofabutt But lasers don't just stop at a fixed length.
The device draws a line on your ceiling. Theres no need to try and see the beam mid-air.
@Sofabutt
It's a 5mW red line laser; the entire length of the line can be seen in daylight.
@Sofabutt In case you didn't know you can purchase Lasers that go up to 750mW... Yeah, we're getting close to 1W handheld lasers. b00yah.
I have a 50mW and it's blinding, so I don't even want to know how crazy a 250mW would be, let alone 500mW... 750mW is just SICK NASTY hahaha
@nrp
obviously you have never owned a 5 mW red laser. Only when the batteries have a full charge can even the source and end point be seen in daylight. Once the battery gets to ~25%, it's best to use it at night. Even when the batteries are full though, it's near impossible see it in daylight.
Yeah, I understand it'd be used at night and indoors, but either way you won't see the full beam without a fog like effect.
@Gamecheater
I guess I need to be more specific. By line laser, I mean laser with a lens that turns the dot into a line. Basically what is used in laser levels. The beam itself of course cannot be seen unaided on a 5mW red laser. It is being projected as a line onto the ceiling.
@Sofabutt Too much Socom?
I woulda figured the gamer dude up there would figure out that this would be great for other gamers as while you're up late playing games, This would give you a quick reference as to how long you have left before you "should" be getting up.....
Great Idea, reeks of WIN.
For when you wake up and it's still dark, but you think it's already close to morning ... so you know whether to crash for another several hours or just snooze for twenty minutes.
It's nerdy and vaguely useful, stop crapping on it.
Are those Lego's?
If so, this=win.
@GenericMessage It looks like Mega-Blocks, which makes it auto fail.
@(Unverified)
Auto fail? Like Go-Bots?
@GenericMessage
They are Lego Technic parts.
@GenericMessage I guess an alarm-clock made out of legos WOULD give the satisfaction of crunching the thing every morning..
He should paint a line across his ceiling with 1-12 on it, like a flat clock.
As the laser moves across the ceiling, it points at a number, telling you what time it is.
OMG lightsaber potential!
@fnybny
It cuts off Mark Hamill's hand every morning. :D
Yes I am trolling but so what.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/24/steve-jobs-tablet-most-important/
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/24/the-killer-app-for-apples-tablet-gaming/
Engadget you guys have been slippin' on your Apple News
Make it happen
@Jehryan
There are not news. The first link clearly says we have not heard this first hand and the second link is of course all speculations.
I thought I was reading hackaday when I saw this post.
When I saw the lego I knew this would be an awesome gadget
"You expect me to talk?"
"No Mr. Bond, I expect you to DIE!"
@weeliano Beat me to it. I had visions of lying in bed, with the laser getting closer and closer to my 'nads as wake-up time approached.
Go with green or (blu) lasers and you will have a trick toy; nice digital analogy to an hourglass filled with sand; and obviously much more versatile since you can adjust the (eclipse) interval timing :) Word UP
I really wish the beam itself was truly becoming shorter. Such a technology would mean lightsabers! Sadly though I doubt such magic was discovered purely for the purposes of an alarm clock :(
It would be interesting to watch a time lapse video.
Wasnt this in a Mr Bean episode?