August 29, 2008 Philips has shown the second generation of its Wake-up Light at IFA 2008, while Dutch consumer electronics brand Lenco is displaying a multi-colored approach on the same theme. Both lights are designed to mimic the natural process of waking up with the sun and, hopefully, make it just that little bit easier to get out of bed in the morning.
A recent survey conducted by Philips showed that nine out of 10 consumers admitted to hitting the snooze button on their alarm clock before being able to get themselves up and out of bed. To address this issue, the Wake-up Light is a dawn simulator that wakes you naturally with light. The body is gently woken up the way nature intended, starting from about thirty minutes before your required wake-up time. It begins emitting light which gradually increases in intensity, simulating the rising sun in your bedroom. The idea is that your body will be gently prepared to wake-up so you feel refreshed and more alert when you finally open your eyes.
The first version of the Philips Wake-up Light was released in 2006 and was a slightly less stylized design. Its new ergonomic design means that it is now smaller, but the light intensity is enough to use as an eco-friendly reading light using the energy saving light bulb.
The Lenco Wellness Clock Radio follows a similar principal, but using an orb shape and various colors. The seven-color rainbow light dome also features the option to wake to a buzzer, the radio, or one of three different melodies. To help you wake up, the light on the dome comes to life when your alarm does. The clock radio features and LCD display, a Neodym speaker and metal speaker grill for an optimal sound reproduction and is powered by two AAA batteries.