Alarm clocks are generally hated, but most people could not get by without them. They are necessary for people to structure their lives, and thus for the world we live in to function properly.

Alarm clocks have not always been a part of the human experience. For a large part of history, most people did not have access to clocks, let alone alarm clocks. The first mechanical clocks, very large devices too big for homes, appeared in the 14th century. It was not until the 1600s that the first household clocks came into use.

The alarm clocks now in stores come in a phenomenal amount of styles and with a wide array of features. Popular alarm clock features these days include…

- One-touch timers that allow users to set the clock to give them a reminder to go to sleep to in the evenings (and not just wake them up).

- The ability to set and save multiple alarm times.

- Remote controls so that the alarm can be turned off from a distance.

One significant change in recent years has been option of attaching MP3 players to alarm clocks. Therefore, it is now possible for people to wake up to sounds of their favorite artists and bands. Still, even with the addition of cool functions such as this, the traditional alarm clock has seen a slump in sales.

The reason reason is that people are very familiar with, and attached to, their cell phones, and many do not see the reason to have another electronic device in their lives even if alarm clocks offer more features. Surveys show an increasing number of people ditching their alarm clocks and using their cell phones to wake them up.

Even so, there is no reason to expect the alarm clocks to become completely obsolete just yet. Manufacturers of alarm clocks have recognized the problems they face and are coming up with more and more innovative designs. For example, there is now an alarm clock that records body motions throughout the night and selects the optimal time to wake the sleeper.

For information on modern alarm clocks that make waking up as pleasant as possible, visit ‘Bose Alarm Clock‘, where you can learn about Bose alarm clocks and alarm clock features.