One cool (or crazy) thing: Alarm clock eases transition with ...

Whether you have trouble falling asleep, or trouble waking up bright and chipper to face the day, there's an alarm clock that might cushion your transition between waking and sleep. Oregon Scientific's Aroma Diffuser Elite is a clock that appeals to three senses -- sight, hearing and smell. It has:

• Soothing "mood lights" in seven hues, so you can revitalize yourself with warm colors and de-stress with cool ones.
• Nature sounds and music, with five types including ocean waves, bird song and piano.
• Aromas of essential oils, such as lavender, that are released by means of ultrasonic vibration. This works by breaking up "a mixture of water and essential oils into millions of micro-particles," according to the Oregon Scientific website. For safety, the diffuser shuts off automatically when the water level gets too low.

There's an automatic timer and a remote control. Also, the alarm clock has a headphone jack so you can play your own music from your MP3 or CD player. It's available from Oregon Scientific for $ 109.99, with free shipping, and at a lower price from some other online retailers, including Amazon. where the customer reviews are mixed.

Oregon Scientific was founded in Portland in 1989 and has its corporate headquarters in Tualatin, but its parent company, IDT International Limited, gives it international reach. "Smart clocks" and home weather stations are two of its principal areas of expertise.

Take a look at the information on the website, see what you think, then share your view by voting in our poll.

-- Pat Jeffries

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2012/08/one_cool_or_crazy_thing_alarm.html

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