A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. One or more alarms on the device may be temporarily disabled when sensor data indicates that the user is asleep. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the device—such as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and the like—may also be used to deduce the user's current activity. User data (such as calendar entries) may also be used to determine likely user activity and set alarms accordingly. Biometric data from a second, nearby person may also be used to automatically select certain alarm modes on a first person's device.

An alarm clock includes a microcontroller, a display unit, an audio output unit, ten numeric keys and a functional key. Upon determining that a long-press operation is performed on one of the numeric keys that corresponds to a weekly alarm setting, the microcontroller performs a weekly alarm setting procedure for the corresponding weekly alarm setting. In the weekly alarm setting procedure, the microcontroller sets an alarm time based on some numeric keys that are pressed in a time-setting stage, and sets an alarm day based on at least one numeric key and the functional key that are pressed in a day-setting stage. Then, the microcontroller displays the alarm, time and the alarm day on the display unit.

A sleep training device is disclosed comprising certain electronic components, audio components, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), physical switches, a capacitive touch component, or a combination thereof. The sleep training device can have a housing configured to house the electronic components, the audio components, the LEDs, the capacitive touch component, and at least part of the physical switches. The sleep training device can receive an instruction to schedule a sleep program based on a set parameter from another device in wireless communication with the sleep training device, initiate the sleep program once the set parameter is met, and disable at least one of the physical switches and the capacitive touch component when the sleep program is initiated.

A sleep training device is disclosed comprising certain electronic components, audio components, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), physical switches, a capacitive touch component, or a combination thereof. The sleep training device can have a housing configured to house the electronic components, the audio components, the LEDs, the capacitive touch component, and at least part of the physical switches. The sleep training device can receive an instruction to schedule a sleep program based on a set parameter from another device in wireless communication with the sleep training device, initiate the sleep program once the set parameter is met, and disable at least one of the physical switches and the capacitive touch component when the sleep program is initiated.

An information processing apparatus includes sound selection means for selecting a sound to be outputted from a sound candidate group, sound output means for outputting the selected sound when an output condition is satisfied, sleep state estimation means for estimating a sleep state of a user based on a result of measurement by a sensor that measures body motion of the user, hours-of-sleep calculation means for calculating hours of sleep of the user based on the estimated sleep state of the user, and addition means for adding a new sound to the sound candidate group based on the calculated hours of sleep of the user.

An audible wrist watch assembly includes a wrist watch that is wearable on a user's wrist. An audio unit is coupled to the wrist watch and the audio unit emits a plurality of time alerts. The audio unit emits each of the time alerts upon the respective hour of the day to audibly communicate the hour of the day to a visually impaired user. A reminder unit is coupled to the wrist watch and the reminder unit stores a plurality of verbal reminders. Each of the verbal reminders is programmable to correspond to a respective hour of the day. Moreover, the reminder unit audibly emits each of the verbal reminders at the respective hour of the day to remind the user to perform a task at a certain time.

A method for operating a surgical device, includes: determining whether a switch has transitioned from a first condition, corresponding to a first operating mode, to a second condition, corresponding to a second operating mode; when it is determined that the switch has transitioned from the first condition to the second condition: maintaining the first operating mode for a pre-determined time; in a case where the switch remains in the second condition throughout the pre-determined time, switching to the second operating mode after expiration of the pre-determined time; and when the switch returns to the first condition during the pre-determined time, maintaining the first operating mode after expiration of the pre-determined time.

An alarm apparatus, in particular an alarm apparatus having at least two separate parts, includes an alarm unit and a user portion for generating a localized alert. The user portion has an attachment means for attaching the user portion about or onto a part of the user's body. The user portion includes a lock which in use is adapted to lock the user portion about or onto a part of the user's body. The alarm unit and user portion in use are located apart one from another and the lock is adapted to unlock upon presentation of the user portion to the alarm unit.

Techniques and apparatus for providing power monitoring processes are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one storage device and logic coupled to the at least one storage device. The logic may be configured to poll a power device comprising a plurality of power elements via an alarm status identifier operative to cause the power device to return an alarm status string comprising a plurality of alarm status bits, each of the plurality of alarm status bits indicating an active alarm state of one of the plurality of power elements, and determine each of the plurality of power elements in the active alarm state based on the alarm status string. Other embodiments are described.