How tired are you?
January 16, 2008 7:48 AM Subscribe
This 2-minute test tells you how tired you are. It accompanies the Wellcome Institute's Sleeping & Dreaming exhibition.
Doesn't seem like it is able to test for folks that have good reaction time and are still tired.
posted by bigmusic at 7:56 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by bigmusic at 7:56 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty damn tired. I got an average of 283 milliseconds. Then the site said:
You seem pretty alert so you won't be able to SLEEP ON A CLOTHES LINE
What the heck is that supposed to mean?
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:57 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
You seem pretty alert so you won't be able to SLEEP ON A CLOTHES LINE
What the heck is that supposed to mean?
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:57 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
coded message, dude.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 7:58 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 7:58 AM on January 16, 2008
Pretty alert... I'd don't feel like that. Perhaps I've just played too many twitch games over the years.
SLEEP ON A CLOTHES LINE
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:01 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
SLEEP ON A CLOTHES LINE
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:01 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
231!
posted by prototype_octavius at 8:04 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by prototype_octavius at 8:04 AM on January 16, 2008
Yikes! I knew I was tired, but not THAT tired. Actually, if I had taken this test before I got my CPAP machine, I probably would have scored much worse.
Interesting find. I wish that exhibit were closer. I'm fascinated by dreams. I find I remember many more of my dreams than other people I know. (I think it's because I frequently rouse due to sleep apnea, so I interrupt more sessions of REM sleep, rather than just that last bit of REM sleep before waking in the a.m.) Which means I have an even greater stockpile of "why on earth would I dream that?" dream memories.
posted by Biblio at 8:05 AM on January 16, 2008
Interesting find. I wish that exhibit were closer. I'm fascinated by dreams. I find I remember many more of my dreams than other people I know. (I think it's because I frequently rouse due to sleep apnea, so I interrupt more sessions of REM sleep, rather than just that last bit of REM sleep before waking in the a.m.) Which means I have an even greater stockpile of "why on earth would I dream that?" dream memories.
posted by Biblio at 8:05 AM on January 16, 2008
Did anyone else get this message?
Your test results accord with those of a zombie's SO GET OFF YOUR ASS AND START EATING THE UNDEAD
posted by localhuman at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Your test results accord with those of a zombie's SO GET OFF YOUR ASS AND START EATING THE UNDEAD
posted by localhuman at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
(oh, and my scores were consistently in the 350-480 range)
posted by Biblio at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Biblio at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008
387.
I need to wake-up, I'm a sleepy-head.
It's 12AM out here. I agree with the latter, I disagree with the former.
posted by the cydonian at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008
I need to wake-up, I'm a sleepy-head.
It's 12AM out here. I agree with the latter, I disagree with the former.
posted by the cydonian at 8:06 AM on January 16, 2008
Does it tell me whether I'm smarter than a chimp?
posted by Miko at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but I don't rouse much and I fuckin full-on lucid dream, and when I don't I still remember most of 'em.
If you want to remember your dreams, and you think about dreams a lot and they are important to you, you'll remember 'em.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2008
If you want to remember your dreams, and you think about dreams a lot and they are important to you, you'll remember 'em.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:07 AM on January 16, 2008
I'm wide awake, feel fine, and got WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD (why do they have to shout? they are going to wake up the baby). I just have crap hand-eye coordination. Plus, I think it's because I'm on a Mac. Everyone is prejudiced against Macs. I'm writing to my congressperson!
posted by nax at 8:08 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by nax at 8:08 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
I found my scores started to get a bit higher towards the end of the test as my mind started to wander ever-so-slightly. But I'm don't see any indication that the test actually measures this.
posted by Urban Hermit at 8:09 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Urban Hermit at 8:09 AM on January 16, 2008
tags should really include 'sleepy'. People should be less tardy with their tags around here.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:10 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:10 AM on January 16, 2008
I got the clothesline message. I blame the steaming cup of caffeine for any alertness.
I should be banned from taking this test in the future because of my use of performance enhancing drugs.
posted by heatherbeth at 8:10 AM on January 16, 2008
I should be banned from taking this test in the future because of my use of performance enhancing drugs.
posted by heatherbeth at 8:10 AM on January 16, 2008
I feel asleep halfway through the test. What does that mean?
posted by never used baby shoes at 8:12 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by never used baby shoes at 8:12 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
Ditto EXACTLY what Faint of Butt said.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:13 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by miss lynnster at 8:13 AM on January 16, 2008
Geez, my score was 358. I'm apparently an exhausted little SLEEPY HEAD.
posted by LN at 8:14 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by LN at 8:14 AM on January 16, 2008
I averaged 189ms, but it probably doesn't count the two "false starts," which I'm pretty sure weren't. Also, the color scheme is pretty obnoxious.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:16 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by uncleozzy at 8:16 AM on January 16, 2008
245ms average for me. (220 ms is considered "good" according to the results.)
posted by Prospero at 8:22 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Prospero at 8:22 AM on January 16, 2008
Whoa, 411. But I blame it on the fact that I'm on a laptop. If I were using an actual mouse I'd be much faster. Right?
posted by Enroute at 8:34 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Enroute at 8:34 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Raise your hand if this goddam thread is making you yawn.
posted by cortex at 8:37 AM on January 16, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by cortex at 8:37 AM on January 16, 2008 [5 favorites]
too tired. someone else raise my hand.
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2008
I wouldn't be able to fall asleep on a clothesline. That's a good thing, if I ever find myself on a clothesline I guess.
Does this have any connection with Burroughs-Wellcome, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline, makers of Sominex... or is my tin foil hat on a bit too tight?
posted by clevershark at 8:41 AM on January 16, 2008
Does this have any connection with Burroughs-Wellcome, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline, makers of Sominex... or is my tin foil hat on a bit too tight?
posted by clevershark at 8:41 AM on January 16, 2008
I'm tired and I passed. I am so awesome at test-taking.
posted by smackfu at 8:43 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by smackfu at 8:43 AM on January 16, 2008
I'm not tired at all, and also am a sleepy-head. Maybe I just have bad reflexes?
posted by miss tea at 8:45 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by miss tea at 8:45 AM on January 16, 2008
I'm exhausted AND I have quick reflexes.
posted by availablelight at 8:47 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by availablelight at 8:47 AM on January 16, 2008
Average 72. But I cheated.
I had my pet squirrel do it after a couple of shots of espresso.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:47 AM on January 16, 2008
I had my pet squirrel do it after a couple of shots of espresso.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:47 AM on January 16, 2008
Apparently I'm tired. Oh Caffeine God, why have you forsaken me?
posted by ob at 8:49 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by ob at 8:49 AM on January 16, 2008
I never could make it to the end of the test. Years of multitasking have led me to the point where it is impossible for me to stay in one page waiting for number to come up while I could be reading pointless information somewhere else, I'm afraid.
posted by micayetoca at 8:50 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by micayetoca at 8:50 AM on January 16, 2008 [2 favorites]
301 and I haven't yet mustered the energy to stare longingly at the cold, empty Mr. Coffee.
posted by katillathehun at 8:50 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by katillathehun at 8:50 AM on January 16, 2008
That test wore me out, bros.
posted by Mister_A at 8:57 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 8:57 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
This test is a joke. I have nodded off about 9 times within the past hour, 2 times during the test. I got an "I'm alert but I can't sleep on a clothesline" answer. I assure you, if someone threw a ball at me right now, it would hit my head, I'd give a dirty look and then go back to my glazed far off expression.
posted by spec80 at 8:58 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by spec80 at 8:58 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm averaging about 230ms and am currently pretty baked, fighting 12 hours jet-lag. Am I alert right now? Functional maybe, but still pretty spacey. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep on a clothesline though.
posted by bonehead at 9:03 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by bonehead at 9:03 AM on January 16, 2008
I jiggered my results quite a bit by changing to a different mouse. But.....maybe the test knew....that I was finally alert enough....To Use a Better Mouse!! Yeah. That must be it.
Or maybe this test is about as scientific as astrology.
posted by bigskyguy at 9:03 AM on January 16, 2008
Or maybe this test is about as scientific as astrology.
posted by bigskyguy at 9:03 AM on January 16, 2008
245 ms, but I think part of my slowness could be attributed to boredom, not fatigue. I kept glancing away from where the numbers appeared.
posted by desjardins at 9:05 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by desjardins at 9:05 AM on January 16, 2008
I fell asleep playing it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:08 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:08 AM on January 16, 2008
*bonk*
I was reading recent activity, saw cortex's comment, and I clicked "remove from activity" to reply to him. Nice.
posted by spec80 at 9:12 AM on January 16, 2008
I was reading recent activity, saw cortex's comment, and I clicked "remove from activity" to reply to him. Nice.
posted by spec80 at 9:12 AM on January 16, 2008
This is the most tired I've been all week, a cute test, but how can they determine that variables such as extensive video game playing, consistent computer usage, or a quick mouse-trigger due to hand eye coordination weren't a factor?
I found my eyes getting blurry and I almost fell asleep waiting for the next numbers to show up...but whatever, I guess I'm totally alert!
posted by Chuffy at 9:19 AM on January 16, 2008
I found my eyes getting blurry and I almost fell asleep waiting for the next numbers to show up...but whatever, I guess I'm totally alert!
posted by Chuffy at 9:19 AM on January 16, 2008
342 ms, but I'm really about to fall into bed.
What I really need is one of these to test my reaction times before I log in to prevent me from posting drunk.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:23 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
What I really need is one of these to test my reaction times before I log in to prevent me from posting drunk.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:23 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was more interested in the bronze sculpture that looked like it was screaming at me and not yawning. Here's the interesting part about the sculpture...
The Yawner, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736-1783), Second half of the 20th century; cast of a missing sculpture. Slowak National Gallery, Bratislava. Photo: David Brandt. In 1770, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt began working on a planned series of one hundred different 'character heads', in which he sought to depict all human emotions and moods.
Wikipedia turns up this sad story, but no further info on the missing original. Nice work though.
Oh and 231.
posted by haunted by Leonard Cohen at 9:26 AM on January 16, 2008
The Yawner, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736-1783), Second half of the 20th century; cast of a missing sculpture. Slowak National Gallery, Bratislava. Photo: David Brandt. In 1770, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt began working on a planned series of one hundred different 'character heads', in which he sought to depict all human emotions and moods.
Wikipedia turns up this sad story, but no further info on the missing original. Nice work though.
Oh and 231.
posted by haunted by Leonard Cohen at 9:26 AM on January 16, 2008
I took this test at the Wellcome Collection, about four hours after arriving in London on on overnight flight, in the course of which I got about an hour of sleep. It told me I wasn't very tired. But I was.
posted by escabeche at 9:34 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by escabeche at 9:34 AM on January 16, 2008
I got distracted calculating the framerate from the time quanta increments (looks like 65 fps on this computer).
posted by aubilenon at 9:48 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by aubilenon at 9:48 AM on January 16, 2008
I was fine until about half way through when I realised with horror that most computer games had exactly the same gameplay as this did. The same gameplay, more buttons and prettier graphics, but for all topological intents and purposes, exactly the same.
Oh, and 241.
posted by seanyboy at 9:48 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh, and 241.
posted by seanyboy at 9:48 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I got 271 but kept thinking "wow, this site looks like it's about to start playing a tampon commercial based on the color scheme." I was distracted.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:49 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:49 AM on January 16, 2008
FIRST!!1!
posted by hal9k at 9:55 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by hal9k at 9:55 AM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I got 314, which gave me the SLEEPY HEAD message. I disagree, though. I'm fully awake, I just have terrible reflexes.
posted by arcticwoman at 10:04 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by arcticwoman at 10:04 AM on January 16, 2008
I'm always sleepy. I just woke up from a nap and got the "SLEEPY HEAD" message. Dude. I think to be totally alert, you'd have inject espresso straight into my veins. I used to serve coffee and even THEN I was always sleepy.
*yawn* If you need me, I'll be asleep on the clothesline.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2008
*yawn* If you need me, I'll be asleep on the clothesline.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2008
453 but eight months pregnant. I'm impressed I even did that well!
posted by wallaby at 10:28 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by wallaby at 10:28 AM on January 16, 2008
This test clearly hasn't been adjusted for tweakers.
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:30 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:30 AM on January 16, 2008
I was fine until about half way through when I realised with horror that most computer games had exactly the same gameplay as this did.
Half-Life2: Sleepy Head
posted by infinitewindow at 10:31 AM on January 16, 2008
Half-Life2: Sleepy Head
posted by infinitewindow at 10:31 AM on January 16, 2008
This can't possibly test anything other than reaction time.
Took a drag racing class once. I realized that no matter how powerful a car I ever had, I would always lose as I have the world's worst reaction times.
posted by maxwelton at 10:45 AM on January 16, 2008
Took a drag racing class once. I realized that no matter how powerful a car I ever had, I would always lose as I have the world's worst reaction times.
posted by maxwelton at 10:45 AM on January 16, 2008
Ditto what FaintOfButt and MissLynnster said. I'm exhausted. The obscure clothesline reference was not pleasant or welcome. Left me feeling like a charterhouse in a cathode ray tube.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:47 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by ZachsMind at 10:47 AM on January 16, 2008
I averaged at 212. Do I get money or something? Not a clothesline?
posted by Chocomog at 11:06 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Chocomog at 11:06 AM on January 16, 2008
313. But I could tell I was tired after about 30 seconds, when my eyes got lazy and I was looking at TWO computer screens. That's not helpful. Except to tell me I'm tired. Which I knew.
posted by bassjump at 11:08 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by bassjump at 11:08 AM on January 16, 2008
My reaction time was honed years ago by driving in New York City. Nothing like the honk from behind to get you moving quickly :-). Juggling doesn't hurt either. This morning, I was barely able to keep my eyes open while driving into work, but I could still zip out a second before anyone else when the light turned green. If you have to use conscious thought to do one of these tests, you're lost — it has to be instinctive.
posted by Araucaria at 11:40 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Araucaria at 11:40 AM on January 16, 2008
Oh, my average was 289, after I figured out that I was actually supposed to click something. But I could easily sleep on a clothes line.
posted by Araucaria at 11:41 AM on January 16, 2008
posted by Araucaria at 11:41 AM on January 16, 2008
The background made me sleepy.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:02 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by kirkaracha at 12:02 PM on January 16, 2008
This is something Johnny Fever would get better at the more he drank.
posted by Justin Case at 12:19 PM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Justin Case at 12:19 PM on January 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm gonna have someone else take the test for me; I'm tired.
posted by hojoki at 12:34 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by hojoki at 12:34 PM on January 16, 2008
I'm about 272-301 tired. But I found that I was less tired if I held my finger lightly pressed on the mouse button before the numbers flashed.
I'll have to remember that trick next time I'm driving at night.
posted by mmrtnt at 1:32 PM on January 16, 2008
I'll have to remember that trick next time I'm driving at night.
posted by mmrtnt at 1:32 PM on January 16, 2008
The test put me to sleep, but it's such a bore I don't think that's an accessment of my sleepiness.
posted by ZachsMind at 1:59 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by ZachsMind at 1:59 PM on January 16, 2008
334 - I'm practically comatose. My toddler is sprouting 4 molars at once, so I only had about 4 hours sleep last night.
posted by echolalia67 at 2:54 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by echolalia67 at 2:54 PM on January 16, 2008
I got 335 while completely awake, shortly after my afternoon coffee. This could explain why I suck so much at Team Fortress 2.
posted by penguinliz at 3:39 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by penguinliz at 3:39 PM on January 16, 2008
cortex: "Raise your hand if this goddam thread is making you yawn."
Now it is, thanks. 297 here and I've had perhaps 40 hours of sleep over the last two weeks. Not that accurate, if you ask me.
posted by flatluigi at 4:12 PM on January 16, 2008
Now it is, thanks. 297 here and I've had perhaps 40 hours of sleep over the last two weeks. Not that accurate, if you ask me.
posted by flatluigi at 4:12 PM on January 16, 2008
I was just on a plane for the last 24 hours, am ready to sleep for the next 12 hours and got about 290. FAIL
posted by A dead Quaker at 5:16 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by A dead Quaker at 5:16 PM on January 16, 2008
I was getting something like 350ms, and was sort of worried about the fact that my reaction time had decreased by over 100ms without me being the slightest bit tired, and then took a different test and scored around 230ms average. This thing is either broken or my laptop just really sucks at displaying a rapidly changing series of numbers.
posted by tehloki at 5:57 PM on January 16, 2008
posted by tehloki at 5:57 PM on January 16, 2008
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posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 7:53 AM on January 16, 2008