An alarming alarm clock!

A tip o' the hat to Rich W. for e-mailing details of this invention.

The Japanese online emporium Strapya-World is about to introduce an "alarm clock" with a difference - one that might prove rather hazardous in redneck country!

Their Bandai Gun O'Clock Alarm Clock comes with a flip-up target and a dummy pistol, presumably firing a laser beam.




When the alarm sounds, a sleeper is apparently supposed to grab the "pistol" and shoot the pop-up target. This will either let him wake up feeling triumphant, or put the alarm clock to sleep for five minutes, whereupon the process repeats itself. There's a rather hokey animation at the link if you want to watch it.

So far, so good . . . but I can't help wondering how this device will work in a market where many people keep guns by their bedside, the better to greet nighttime marauders. I can just see someone missing (or ignoring) the "play gun", grabbing his trusty .45 instead, and ventilating the alarm clock - not to mention the bedroom wall and anyone else in the next room, or even the next house!

I suspect this may not be a good product to market in the USA . . .



Peter