There are already many applications you can use on your smartphone to wake yourself up, from the standard alarm clock to third-party apps. Some of them even give you creative challenges like a word or math question before you could flip the alarm off.
Now, Microsoft comes with its own version of alarm clock app for Android called Mimicker Alarm. The application raises a real challenge for those people who love to sleep, according to CNET.
Microsoft's app gives you not only a challenge to complete before you are allowed to cut the alarm, but is also asking you to make a face into your phone's camera. The free morning alarm clock application is a Microsoft Garage Project.
According to PC Mag, the application is designed to help users to wake up and stay awake by asking them to play a game called "Mimic". In order to turn the alarm off, users must mimic different action given.
For instance, users of the Mimicker Alarm might be asked to speak a phrase, to take a selfie, or even to get out of bed. No matter what challenge the Mimic game comes with, they all require users to be smart, alert, and to be ready to move and use their surroundings.
If someone is not finishing the challenge of the Mimic game in time, then the application assume they have fallen back asleep. In this case the alarm will buzz again. Microsoft Mimicker Alarm app also allows users to share with their friends their personalized results on how they beat the clock. The Mimic Alarm app could also function when users are not online, for example when they are out on a camping trip.
For app developers, Microsoft is providing the open-source code for the Mimic, including integrated Project Oxford APIs that cover speech recognition, face detection and recognition, and emotion recognition. The source code is available on Github. Those developers who want to get more creative can even create their own mimics.
