Clocky aims to awake oversleepers by hiding

Before you hit the snooze button a second time on this alarm clock, you’ll have to hunt it down.

The carpet-covered robotic alarm clock on wheels, called Clocky, rolls away and hides.

The clock is the invention of Gauri Nanda, a graduate student — and occasional oversleeper — who works at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“I’ve been known to hit the snooze bar for a couple hours, wake up two hours later and be completely shocked,” said Nanda, 25, who created Clocky for an industrial design course last year.

Nanda’s adviser, V. Michael Bove Jr., said hundreds of people interested in buying or selling the clocks have called and e-mailed. But the gadget is not yet available for sale.

Nanda is thinking of starting her own business to manufacture and market the clock.

Lawrence

Peoples Bank names Wilkins as president

Peoples Bank in Lawrence has a new boss.

Maley Wilkins, having served as vice president for the bank’s Lawrence locations, this week was elevated to president for the Lawrence market. She replaces Todd Harris, who resigned to pursue other interests.

Wilkins joined Peoples in 1997, and is a former member of the Lawrence school board.

“She brings a wealth of banking experience, including several years with Peoples. Her leadership qualities are second to none,” said Wint Winter Jr., chief executive officer of Peoples Bank.

Peoples Bank has nine locations in northeast Kansas and four in New Mexico.

Retail

Wal-Mart to donate $35 million for wildlife

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, pledged Tuesday to spend $35 million compensating for wildlife habitat lost nationwide beneath its corporate “footprint.”

Acre for acre, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would buy an amount of land equal to all the land its stores, parking lots and distribution centers use during the next 10 years. That would conserve at least 138,000 acres in the United States as “priority” wildlife habitat.

The money will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.