This document summarizes and evaluates three existing online stopwatch/timer tools and discusses elements to include in a custom timer program. It outlines the pros and cons of each existing timer, such as whether they can be used offline, how precise the timing is displayed, and ease of use. Key points that may be incorporated into a new timer program are displaying time values largely, including explicit start/stop/reset buttons, keeping a simple interface, and allowing for offline use with precise millisecond timing.

1. Researching the timer –
current solutions
Hayley Ip 11F

2. This powerpoint…
• In this powerpoint, there will be slides
showing different timers on the market right
now, the pros and cons of using those timers
and elements that I might use to make my
own timer.

3. http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

4. http://www.online-stopwatch.com/
• Pros:
• The numbers are very big so it is easy to keep track of the
time
• It is very easy to use with only two buttons, start (which is
also the stop) and the rest
• Cons:
• This timer must be used online, which means that if the
cuber does not have internet connection, he or she will not
be able to time themselves using the computer.
• What I might use in my timer:
• I would like to make the area showing the times very big
but I think I would have 3 buttons instead of 2 because the
buttons would explicitly say start, stop and reset which
would avoid confusion.

5. http://tools.arantius.com/stopwatch

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http://tools.arantius.com/stopwatch
Pros:
Once again this tool is very easy to use
The timer goes to 3 decimal places so it is very precise.
There is a lap function allowing people to stop at a point,
record the time and continue. (However, I don’t think this is
necessary for my program as it is not timing a run, it is only
timing a single solve)
Cons:
It takes up a very small part of the screen so it is quite hard
to see the time from a distance
Once again, this timer must be used online.
What I might use in my own timer:
I think I quite like the idea of keeping the buttons and the
text simple because it is only a tool, so I don’t think it has to
be very colourful.

7. http://www.timeleft.info/freedownload-stopwatch.html

8. http://www.timeleft.info/freedownload-stopwatch.html
• Pros:
• It can be used offline as the program is available for download
• The buttons are icons so people around the world who do not know
english would still be able to use this program
• Cons:
• The numbers are not precise because the timer can time up to a
few days. This is a vital part of my timer because speed cubers
would take less than 10 seconds to solve a 3x3 rubik’s cube, so they
will need to have more digits than only the seconds, so I would
have to have milliseconds on my timer.
• What I might use in my own timer
• I would make a program so people can download it and use it
offline because I feel that there is a need for a timer with precise
digits that can be used offline.