I am designing a speech timer for use in toastmasters. I have only attended a handful of meetings so I thought it would be an interesting experiment to blog about the design and solicit comments. Sort of like the early days of the internet when researchers would issue a Request For Comments which would later become a formal specification.

After a few days or maybe a week I will post the new specs taking into account features and ideas suggested in the comments here. I suppose you could say I’m looking for evaluators!

Here are the initial specifications. If there are multiple specs on one line separated by commas the first item is the one I’m considering and the others are listed as alternatives in no particular order.

  • battery powered, wall adapter?, rechargeable?
  • LCD display (like calculator), LED display? (like alarm clock), Vacuum Fluorescent? (like microwave)
  • 3.5 digits e.g. 18:88, more digits?, alphanumeric?
  • 2 buttons [Select/Reset] and [Start/Stop], (see operation description below)
  • fixed choices for duration, programmable durations?
  • vertical “pole” with illuminated red-yellow-green sections, other arrangements or illumination?
  • 6″ tall
  • folds flat, some other form that might be bulkier but easier to construct?
  • any other ideas ??

Operation would be as follows:

Step 1, Press the [Select/Reset] button to cycle through common speech times e.g. 1:2 (1 to 2 minutes), 4:6 (4 to 6 minutes), 7:9… suggested display could go up to 19:99 (although I suppose 19:21 would make more sense). Stop when desired time is displayed.

Step 2. Press the [Start/Stop] button to begin timing.

Elapsed time will be displayed and green light will automatically illuminate at minimum time, yellow half way between minimum and maximum time, red at maximum time.

Step 3. Press the [Start/Stop] button to stop timer. May be stopped and started throughout speech to allow for interruptions, questions etc. Record speaker’s time.

Step 4 Press [Select/Reset] to reset timer and select next speech time.

Any and all comments are welcome. If you think it would be cool if it flipped up like a cell phone, or if it’s disguised as a flower arrangement, or beeps when you are at maximum time, or at max plus 30 seconds or it says, “TIMES UP!!” or… I would love to hear your ideas.

Just type your comments in the “Leave A Reply” box below and then click on “Post My Comment”. P.S. The Username can just be your name, nickname etc. you do not need any kind of account. The email field is required but will not appear in the post and will NOT be shared.

specifications that have already been suggested! Just so you don’t have to scour the comments to find them. Also, some have been sent via email or given in person.

  • Programmable speech times
  • Audible alert
  • wireless link between timer and indicator lights so lights could be placed in a more visible location
  • Memory for storing speech times tagged with category such as speaker, TT, Evaluator