The ability to sleep is vital for the overall well-being of the human body, as it regenerates and carries out certain important physiological processes during exactly this period. However, most people tend to wake up very abruptly in the morning, something that affects their overall behavior during the respective day, and this is the reason why Hammacher Schlemmer came up with the Sleep Cycle Monitoring Watch, a device that should, at least according to the vendor, provide a better waking up pattern.



It's a very well-known fact that waking up from a light sleep cycle reduces sleep inertia and can lead to improved brain activity, mood, and alertness in the morning. Using an integrated accelerometer, the watch tracks brief physiological movements that occur during the light sleep stages of your sleep cycle. The readings enable the watch to determine the optimal time for the user to wake up, and the unit gently prods them with vibrations or an audible alarm to get them out of bed.



The device should prove to be rather helpful when traveling through different time zones or for those with fluctuating morning schedules. It features a four-button control panel that allows users to easily set the alarm, program the time they are going to bed, and select a timespan (10 to 90 minutes) prior to the alarm for the watch to begin determining the best time for them to wake up.



The watch has a graphing function that shows users their nearly awake moments for the previous nights' sleep. Furthermore, it includes PC software for tracking sleep data, an USB port for connection to a PC, and a replaceable CR 2032 battery. The device is also quite portable, weighing just around 56.7 grams (2 oz.)



The Sleep Cycle Monitoring Watch retails for around 180 US dollars, which seems like a bit too much to pay for such an item, taking into consideration its rather questionable level of utility.