2: 20-20 timer

The last couple of weeks the only thing I see is the inside of my room, with my window open and my curtain closed. I live in a space of only a couple of square meters. Not only is it starting to get really boring but apart from that, I don’t see anything of the outside world anymore.

Staring at only a computer screen is not only boring but is isn’t good for your eyes either. Spending hours looking at your computer screen (or phone or tablet) can strain the eyes. The digital related eye strain affects everyone working on with screens. If you have worked for many hours using a computer, you might notice that your vision will not be clear and it is blurred. Also your eyes can feel tired and may hurt.

That is why I have created the 20/20 app. This app will help you time for how long you can still work before you have to look outside. According to Pearle optician and many other researchers (Pearle, 2020), following the 20-20 rule will help you keep your eyes healthy.

I have created the app with Open Frameworks, coded on Xcode. I have used the addons ofxGui and ofxXmlSettings. With the Gui you can set your time you want to work for in minutes, between 15 and 30 minutes. You can also set your look away time, between 15 and 60 seconds.

When you have to work you will see a progress bar running really slowly. I have chosen a progress bar because when working with a stopwatch, you can focus too much on the time so it would be bad for your working concentration. When the working time is finished you hear a clear sound, so you are notified that you have to look outside and away from your computer screen.

The same goes for the look away timer. This timer is also shown with a progress bar and when the timer is done, you hear another, clear sound so you now you can start working again. 

References

20 min. scherm = 20 sec. rust | Pearle Opticiens. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://www.pearle.nl/20-20regel

Documentation

Documentation can be found in the download file:

I have worked in the ofApp.cpp and ofApp.h. In the code you can find comments on what is what.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uLkrGrZDxdHpGa-TpyG-DfgJz88Uxqp-