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Tyrant Alarm Clock Says "Good Morning" by Hijacking Your Phone to Make Random Calls
Posted by Sean Fallon at 6:05 AM on July 1, 2008
The "Tyrant" concept by designer Alice Wang is the latest in a growing line of alarm clocks designed to torture their owners into facing the day. Instead of loud alarms, helicopter attachments and early-morning feats of hand-eye coordination, the Tyrant doles out punishment by hijacking your mobile phone contact list and making random calls every three minutes until you get up to turn it off.
Again, this device is just a concept, but I think that Alice is on to something here. The only thing that it needs to be truly effective is message playback. Something like automated drunk dialing--only more devastating. For example, record: "Hey sexy, it's me. Listen, I had to call because I had another dream about you last night. I can't get you out of my mind." The horrifying thought of that message being delivered to your father at 6:00 in the morning is enough to get anyone out of bed. [Alice Wang via Josh Spear]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Valicious
Posted 7:09 AM 1/7/08
random calls won't do , unless they're shuffle of a list of things more horrible than your girlfriend including her.
Alarm clock to aim-bot with a sniper rifle which kills random people will prove your morality and punctuality.
Valicious
sdgmcdon
Posted 7:05 AM 1/7/08
what happens if you hit the snooze button? Does it have one?
Sad, .. . . . . . but . . . . . I need this...
sdgmcdon
N@tedog
Posted 6:58 AM 1/7/08
This is awesome!
N@tedog
itchytooth
Posted 6:47 AM 1/7/08
Evil.
itchytooth
Erwin "the Dinger"
Posted 6:43 AM 1/7/08
I'd rather have one with electrodes that attach to your scrotum. No really, anybody know where I can get one?
Erwin "the Dinger"
DurfDiggler
Posted 6:39 AM 1/7/08
Plus, who still uses an alarm clock and not their cell phone itself?
DurfDiggler
Git Em SteveDave needs a Lego advisor
Posted 6:27 AM 1/7/08
@Hectorvex: There's such a thing as too much?
Git Em SteveDave needs a Lego advisor
DurfDiggler
Posted 6:26 AM 1/7/08
This is stupid. I'm still waiting on the Pattern Clock. That was a good idea, but they still haven't mass-produced it.
DurfDiggler
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 6:18 AM 1/7/08
And when the phone calls your boss at 6:30 in the morning, you won't ever have to worry about being late for work again.
OMG! Ponies!
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 6:14 AM 1/7/08
Pfft, cell phone contact list... ::ring ring, ring ring:: "Thanks for calling Pizza Hut, may i take your order". I need some friends.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Simpsons-Movie-ruled
Posted 6:13 AM 1/7/08
@Ghede: Ditto.
But I would just smash my phone to pieces just so it could shut up.
Simpsons-Movie-ruled
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 6:13 AM 1/7/08
Will work exactly as many times as the number of contacts in your cell phone.
92BuickLeSabre
Hectorvex
Posted 6:13 AM 1/7/08
That clock is a prick. What's next? A toaster that remotely burns your dog if you don't get the toast out quick enough? A Tivo that starts sending your mom and grandmother copies of your program listings when you watch too much porn?
Hectorvex
Munch
Posted 6:13 AM 1/7/08
If your alarm clock starts calling me early in the morning, you're going to be late to work. I'm coming over to put sugar in your gas tank.
Munch
Git Em SteveDave needs a Lego advisor
Posted 6:12 AM 1/7/08
Reminds me of Homer's Auto-Dialer.
Git Em SteveDave needs a Lego advisor
aelver
Posted 6:10 AM 1/7/08
Yeah, this will work. Your friends are gonna come round at 5am and beat the crap out of you, and then this thing.
aelver
LJN
Posted 6:10 AM 1/7/08
*calling ex-girlfiend*
"I'm up! I'm up!"
LJN
Ghede
Posted 6:08 AM 1/7/08
Oh dear lord, good article. Can't stop laughing.
Ghede
The Amazing Ant
Posted 7:18 AM 1/7/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: I feel your pain... I have the phone numbers for my local Chilis and Applebees in mine...
The Amazing Ant
txpunk
Posted 7:18 AM 1/7/08
Must install conscience 2.0 or higher*.
*Sold separately.
txpunk
EL_RIEL
Posted 9:05 AM 1/7/08
@DurfDiggler: me and probably other iPhone users :( damn iphone is not loud enough.. not even the "Alarm" sound at max volume..
I need the toaster that burns my tivo loaded porn and calls the exgirlfriend if i dont wake up on time..
EL_RIEL
Hectorvex
Posted 9:39 AM 1/7/08
@Git Em SteveDave needs a Lego advisor: I thought that right after I wrote it, but there is a point when you reach blister town that you have to turn back... if only for a little while.
Hectorvex
Git Em SteveDave wants a Lego build buddy
Posted 12:12 PM 1/7/08
@Hectorvex: On a two day rest myself.
Git Em SteveDave wants a Lego build buddy
countalmaviva
Posted 12:43 PM 1/7/08
Horrible idea. Scenario: I get used to the alarm after two months. Then I ignore my mother's real emergency call. Anyone remember the boy who cried "wolf"?
countalmaviva
zed0
Posted 12:32 PM 1/7/08
oh crap, this could cause some big problems for people
zed0
starpugbug
Posted 8:27 AM 1/7/08
seems like the alarm clock would alienate you from friends and co-workers, thereby negating the need for an alarm clock
starpugbug
GadgetPlay
Posted 4:19 AM 2/7/08
I'm a little sketchy on this concept. In order to get me up, it calls people I know and gets them up? And this would bother me how...?
GadgetPlay
Dyscord
Posted 6:19 AM 1/7/08
This scares me....makes me glad I have a good old fashioned alarm.
Dyscord