Does Tech that Go Bump in the Night Keep You Up?

If you've got gadgets that stay on even while you rest; like the computer, a modem or even the television; you've probably battled the dreaded 'standby' light. It has the ability to fill an otherwise dark and cozy sleepers paradise with enough fading or flickering lights to make you think aliens are invading your bedroom. You've already told us you hate your evening tech's lights, but what about the ambient noise your bedtime gadgets make?

We've got a friend who's computer is ridiculously loud. Like, think a 747 landing in the middle of a jungle infested with hummingbirds who love to sing along to karaoke loud. And when, after a long night in a great little bar-hopping neighborhood, we crash on their couch, we find that it can be impossible to sleep with all the racket coming from the desk.

Do you guys have noisy personal tech? Does the alarm clock iPod dock hum incessantly? Does the TV clatter? Does the analog wall clock keep click, click, clicking all night long? Let us know in the comments!

Image from sskennel at Flickr with a Creative Commons license.

Comments (9)

Computer is silent, speakers are mute but thanks to the bleeding-edge world of timekeeping c. 1700, the tick-tock and ding-dong of the pendulum clock in my living room keeps me awake at night.

posted by e.scott on June 25th 2009 at 1:13pm
view e.scott's profile

I *need* the sound of a PC fan for me to fall asleep. My boyfriend powers up an old enterprise router when I stay over. I'm not joking. He thinks I'm nuts, but loves me anyway.

posted by KimberlyM on June 25th 2009 at 6:57pm
view KimberlyM's profile

This is OLD tech, but analog clocks and watches. I prefer them to digital (the glowing light problem!), but I am freakishly sensitive to the ticking sound, even over my white noise.

There was an art installation at the Venice Biennale this year that is composed of indicator lights from electronics (Constellation No. 3 by Chun Yu). It's mentioned here: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/6644/chun-yun-constellation-no-3-at-venice-art-biennale-09.html

posted by eneriyma on June 25th 2009 at 7:23pm
view eneriyma's profile

i can't stand a ticking clock either. I love clocks, and own ticking ones, but i can't have one near where I will sleep. I can hear a ticking clock from rooms away and people think i am crazy. Not even a watch can be near me.

to the original poster about the computer fan. He/she should sleep at at night. Not just because it is loud, but very few people actually need to keep their computer running 24/7. Get them a liquid cooled system kit for x-mas or something. Your computer should not be that loud...

posted by jmorey on June 26th 2009 at 10:49am
view jmorey's profile

My floor tower fan recently threw a bearing and squeaks after x minutes of being on. I thought I would be able to sleep through the noise for the next couple weeks since I currently don't have a ceiling fan (dreaded old apartment). Turns out not. I picked it up, threw it down on the floor and broke it. The fan obviously doesn't work anymore, but my problem is solved!

posted by gas0line7 on June 26th 2009 at 8:23pm
view gas0line7's profile

Ever since I was a baby my parents turned on a fan while I slept so I wouldn't be so easily woken at night. Now I can't sleep without one! It drives me NUTS when I'm forced to sleep with earplugs in because the sound of my own breath will actually prevent me from sleeping. Crazy, yes, but true.

posted by thatjessicagirl on June 27th 2009 at 5:41am
view thatjessicagirl's profile

I can't handle tickign of any kind, and white noise just kills me. I can handle it in another room, but if there's a tv or a computer in the room with me when I'm trying to sleep, I can't relax at all, and end up having to turn it off at the power point.

I'm not as bad with light as I used to be, but the noise is still a deal breaker for me.

posted by Kaviare on June 28th 2009 at 6:38pm
view Kaviare's profile

The little chains from my ceiling fan bumping against the lighting fixture drive me nuts.

posted by akay on June 29th 2009 at 8:58am
view akay's profile

When I first made my desktop computer I bought a new case at Comdex that had these two bars of alternating glowing lights that went through a sequence of like 6 colors. Both the top and bottom of each bar had a separate led going and would light up my room in random pulsating color when I would leave it on at night. I learned really quickly to get used to it and now can sleep with pretty much any light on. I bought pretty cheap fans for that too so my comp also sounded like a plane was taking off in my room.

posted by girlonthem00n on June 30th 2009 at 1:48pm
view girlonthem00n's profile