Utterly alarming ways to awaken

The reluctant riser — that overworked and underslept breed whose life is punctuated with electronic beeps, buzzes and chirps — is immune to the standard alarm clock's toll.

At least that's one theory for the current crop of intense eye-openers.

Muji, a cult favorite for its uncomplicated design, offers an easy-to-read analog clock housed in a rubber shell. Toss it against the wall in a fit of bleary-eyed rage and it still runs.

Then there's the Puzzle Alarm Clock, which at the sound of the buzzer sends four jigsaw puzzle pieces flying into the air. By the time you gather up the pieces, put them in place and turn off the alarm, you definitely won't be going back to bed.

Motor skills aren't needed for Nina Tolstrup's On/Off clock for Lexon of France. Once set in the flat "on" position, a simple seesaw tilt will turn it off.

Those searching for a less rude awakening might strap on the Sleeptracker Pro ($179, Sleeptracker.com). Worn like a wristwatch, it monitors movements that indicate a light sleep stage and rouses you at "almost-awake" periods. You preset an alarm window, and when the tracker senses you're in between sleep cycles it emits either an alarm or vibration. The result is a more refreshing wake-up.

Keep waking up on Saturday to Friday's alarm? The new Neverlate Executive has seven alarms, one for each day of the week, with customizable snooze durations and a nap timer. Because not needing a wake-up call for your commute doesn't mean you won't need one for your hangover.