Concept
My switch is based on the sleepless student stereotype, where students are often so sleep-deprived that they fall asleep in their classes. This phenomena, while at times may be attributed to time management (I can attest ), is not entirely so. Scientific research has demonstrated that students do better with later school start times, as teenage brains typically track a circadian rhythm that makes it difficult to fall asleep before midnight.
Thus, to counteract this sleepy-student syndrome, I have designed a switch using a pressure-sensitive resistor and buzzer, powered by a basic voltage divider circuit. My pressure-sensitive resistor is placed underneath a pillow, on a desk. Then, if a sleep-ridden student accidentally places their head on the pillow, it will adjust the resistor and trigger the switch, sounding the wake-up alarm to bring them back to consciousness.
