Using a pulse monitor, this watch detects when you fall asleep. Via Bluetooth, 802.11x or some other short-range wireless, it broadcasts that you are snoozing. Different wireless-enabled devices can use this information.
Your computer: *Records the sleep and wake times in an "iCal"-type calendar program. Log your sleep pattern over months without even trying. *Tells chat clients your custom "I'm sleeping" away message.
Your cellphone: *Consults your computer's calendar so if you fall asleep before an important event, it starts ringing to wake you up. *And if that doesn't work, it calls someone and leaves a short prerecorded message such as: *cars honking in background* "Hello my phone battery is almost dead so I must be quick, I'm stuck in traffic and I'll be late for" *click*
Your house lights, televisions, stereo, etc: *shut off to save electricity while you snooze.
The watch: *Can also consult your computer's calendar to sound an alarm before events. *Displays info on your sleep when you awaken. "Good Xning, you have slept for X hours X minutes X seconds. Your avg. heart rate was X. You slept through X events (don't blame me, your phone called you X times and your computer sent X emails in ALL CAPS. If I were you I'd cut that new X meter long beard and get my Xing act together Mr. Van Winkle). "
This doesn't HAVE to use a pulse monitor to detect sleep since that requires some calibration and may be prone to error, but this way it would use existing technology.
Transmission is secure so others can't detect that the master of the house is out cold and his loot is free for the taking.
To save battery it may check pulse only once every 2 minutes.-- MusicalKungFu, Nov 15 2003 Winkin, Blinkin & Nod http://www.librarys.../messages/1446.htmlMother Goose's Story (sorry for the goose ref.) [barnzenen, Oct 04 2004] Should also be able to determine state by measuring brainwaves (sleep=delta state). Would thus be an excuse to wear an electrode-laden helmet (with lightbulb).-- benjamin, Nov 15 2003 Interesting idea, Fu. Welcome to the bakery. (WTAGIPBAN)-- krelnik, Nov 15 2003 Be great for pickpockets on the train ("Ah yes, that one's asleep, and I can see that he has a big fat wallet...")-- DrCurry, Nov 15 2003 iNod, surely.-- half, Nov 15 2003 iNod is very clever but Apple may have some issues with it :)
To address [DrCurry]'s situation: Stealth mode - turns off the watch's "now sleeping" display for when you don't want others to know you are asleep. Although for snorers and the like it's really a lost cause.
And while I'm at it, a Sleep Spoof mode."Dear i was talking in my sleep, see it says so right here - " *spoof* "We had sex, you shouted out the wrong name and THIS is your excuse?"-- MusicalKungFu, Nov 18 2003 Very nice, [Fu] ... [+] enjoy the croisant ... enjoy a nap-- Letsbuildafort, Nov 18 2003 If Apple don't like iNod use uNod instead.-- silverstormer, Nov 18 2003 Or open source gNod...-- DrCurry, Nov 18 2003 I like the idea of getting a report on the duration of my sleep and an analysis of my sleep patterns over time (+). Could it use a motion detector to estimate how much tossing and turning is going on as a guide to the depth and quality of my sleep too? Every part of my working life is audited, analysed and related to my assigned priorities, departmental goals and values that it seems only natural to extend this principle to my sleep too!-- dobtabulous, Nov 18 2003 Like it. but how does it handle multiple users?
"Dammit, dad fell asleep again and the house shut down."-- RayfordSteele, Nov 18 2003 Ah, but do Winkin and Blinkin have a say in the matter?-- barnzenen, Nov 18 2003 random, halfbakery