Nintendo Sound Clock Discussion with the Developer (Volume 14), Focusing on Alarmo - Initial Section
Nintendo, the renowned gaming giant, has ventured into a new territory with the launch of Alarmo, a unique motion-sensing alarm clock. The device, developed through close cross-functional collaboration between Nintendo’s game software and hardware teams, integrates interactive features inspired by Nintendo games into a physical alarm clock device.
The Making of Alarmo
The development of Alarmo began as research into motion sensor technology. The initial goal was to support people during their sleep, but after a lot of technical trial and error and building many prototypes, the focus shifted to alarm clocks.
Tetsuya Akama, a member of the Technology Development Department, was the director for Alarmo. Akama is known for his work on the Joy-Con grip for Nintendo Switch and the Joy-Con Wheel. Yosuke Tamori, a member of the Entertainment Planning & Development Department, was the producer for Alarmo. Tamori has previously been involved in the development of Splatoon for Wii U and Nintendo Labo for Nintendo Switch.
The team took advantage of ideas such as "stopping a device without touching it" and "reacting to body movements" in the final product. The sensor's development led to discussions about its suitability for use in a private space, such as a bedroom. The sensor used in Alarmo is a radio wave sensor, capable of detecting subtle movements and privacy-protecting compared to cameras.
Unique Features of Alarmo
Alarmo tries to wake you up while you're in bed to help prevent oversleeping. The final product includes features such as sound effects that go up in pitch when you move your body, a fanfare that plays the moment you get out of bed, and the ability to stop the alarm by stretching.
The motion sensor can detect a sleeper's movements and the timing of certain body movements just before waking up. Alarmo keeps track of how long you've been in bed sleeping and how long it took you to get out of bed after the alarm went off. The alarm sounds of Alarmo are music and sound effects from selected Nintendo games.
Initially, the team considered making the user interface controllable with hand gestures, but found it cumbersome and nipped the idea in the bud. Instead, the user interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing users to easily set the alarm time and choose their favourite music.
Availability and Pricing
Alarmo is available from October 9th. The exact pricing details have not been announced yet, but it is expected to be competitive in the market for high-end alarm clocks.
In summary, Alarmo is a testament to Nintendo’s hallmark of blending software creativity with hardware innovation. The device offers a unique user experience, combining game sound design techniques and hardware capabilities to create an alarm clock that is not only functional but also fun and engaging.
- Nintendo's latest venture, the Alarmo, a motion-sensing alarm clock, was developed by members of their Technology Development and Entertainment Planning & Development departments, harboring expertise in hardware and game software.
- Concepts like "stopping a device without touching it" and "reacting to body movements" were implemented in Alarmo, resulting from the meticulous work on radio wave sensor technology during its development.
- Nintendo games have influenced the unique features of Alarmo, such as rising sound effects when moving and a fanfare upon exiting bed, alongside the ability to choose music from these games for the alarm.
- Expected to enter the market for high-end alarm clocks from October 9th, the specific pricing details for Alarmo remain undisclosed, yet it is anticipated to be competitive.
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