The UK budget hotel chain, Travelodge quizzed 3,000 respondents on waking up habits and 71% of UK adults claimed that alarm clocks are now obsolete. The faithful bedside companion has been cast off in favour of the mobile phone. Sixteen million Brits (36%) now prefer using the latest ring tone to rouse them from sleep rather than the shrill bleeping of an alarm clock.
Other popular methods of waking the nation’s sleepers included:
Leigh McCarron, Travelodge Sleep Director said: “We used to get lots of requests for alarm clocks and wake-up calls but now customers seem content with using their mobile phones. Our business customers are always travelling light so why bring yet another gadget to add to the phone, laptop and ipod”
Chris Idzikowski, Sleep Expert from Edinburgh Sleep Centre said: “Alarm clocks have been shown to cause heart rhythm irregularities which might cause a heart attack. The alarm clock’s strident ringing tone can be a shock to the body and mind. My recommendation is to wake up naturally as the awakening is part of a natural sleep-wake cycle and it can help you feel less groggy. Sleep tends to run on a 90 minute cycle, try to sleep in multiples of 90 minutes.”
In addition the research also looked into what other outdated gadgets and accessories still hold a place in the British bedroom.
Findings revealed Brits are harbouring a range of old fashioned gadgets and accessories in their modern bedrooms which include John Major’s favourite bedroom gadget the teasmade (3%), trouser press (4%), candlewick and flower power bedspreads (12%) and net curtains (29%).
Respondents were asked which bedroom gadget or accessory would they like to see back in fashion and nearly a quarter of the nation (21%) said they would like the iconic teasmade to be cool again.
The research was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Travelodge in April 2008 amongst 3000 adults
Posted to the site on 14th May 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/31147.php