Nintendo Sound Clock's Alarmo Discussions in Volume 14 with the Developer - Part 1
In a surprising departure from their usual game console and software creations, Nintendo has ventured into the realm of alarm clocks with their latest innovation, Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. This unique device, a result of close collaboration between game software developers and hardware engineers, offers an interactive alarm clock experience that combines playfulness and practicality.
At the heart of Alarmo lies a motion sensor, a "radio wave sensor" that can measure distance and speed of an object. This sensor, capable of detecting subtle movements, makes Alarmo suitable for use in a private space like a bedroom. It recognises certain body movements just before a person wakes up, potentially helping them wake up feeling refreshed.
The developers behind Alarmo, Yosuke Tamori and Tetsuya Akama, hail from the Entertainment Planning & Development Department and the Technology Development Department, respectively. Yosuke Tamori, who oversaw the project as a producer, is known for his work on Splatoon and Nintendo Labo. Tetsuya Akama, who joined the project as the director, is a product designer who recently worked on hardware projects such as the Joy-Con grip for Nintendo Switch and the Joy-Con Wheel.
The software team focused on creating sounds that capture the texture and variation of materials—such as rocks or fruits—to enhance realism and enjoyment. These sounds, inspired by game design, are precisely recorded and programmed to provide an immersive and satisfying user experience. The hardware developers, on the other hand, implemented motion sensors that trigger these audio and visual effects seamlessly, contributing to a coherent user experience that combines physical device behaviour and rich, authentic game soundscapes.
One of the standout features of Alarmo is its responsiveness. The alarm automatically stops when the person gets out of bed, and it can also stop around 10 seconds after a person gets out of bed or when they move their body. The developers even experimented with features such as detecting whether a person is starting to sit up in bed, dividing the bed's area into left and right to detect the direction a person rolls over, and making the alarm stoppable by stretching.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo offers a plethora of game sounds as alarm tones, adding a fun twist to waking up. The developers aimed to support people during their sleep, but after a lot of technical trial and error and building many prototypes, they decided to focus on alarm clocks. Despite this shift, the project's origins can still be traced back to researching motion sensor technology and the idea that the sensor could be highly suitable for use in the bedroom.
In addition to its interactive features, Alarmo also provides a pleasant or fun way to wake up and help create a relaxing environment before bed. Its privacy protection features ensure that the sensor is suitable for use in a private space like a bedroom.
This article is a translation of an interview with the developers of Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, offering a unique insight into the development process of this innovative device. The development of Alarmo is unusual for Nintendo, but it demonstrates their commitment to innovation and their ability to adapt their expertise in game design to create practical and engaging products.
[1] Source: Official Nintendo website [3] Source: Polygon interview with Yosuke Tamori and Tetsuya Akama
- The developers of Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, Yosuke Tamori and Tetsuya Akama, have previously worked on projects like Splatoon, Nintendo Labo, Joy-Con grip for Nintendo Switch, and Joy-Con Wheel.
- Combining playfulness and practicality, Alarmo's software team created sounds inspired by game design, while its hardware developers seamlessly integrated motion sensors to trigger these audio and visual effects.
- Alarmo offers game sounds as alarm tones and boasts features such as automatically stopping when a person gets out of bed or responding to movements like rolling over.
- With privacy protection features and a pleasing sleep environment, Alarmo's motion sensor technology can also potentially allow it to be used with smart-home devices and other gadgets in the future, tapping into the realm of technology beyond traditional game consoles and accessories.
