This video explores the Timer Timer Plus—a unique timer that incorporates a disappearing red disk to help users visualize the passage the time.
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Mike Testa, The ADD Advisor.
This video is a product review of the Time Timer Plus. This timer retails for about $35, and you can purchase it from Amazon.com or directly from the folks at Time Timer.
As adults with ADHD, we often have difficulty managing time because we have trouble experiencing the passage of time accurately. Alarms and timers can help us manage time more objectively.
The Time Timer Plus is unique in that in addition to sounding an auditory alarm, this timer displays a disappearing red disk to help users visualize the passage of time.
The unit is roughly 7 inches tall, 5 and half inches wide, and about 2.2 inches think. The unit is made entirely out of plastic and feels reasonably solid.
The design incorporates a handle and two feet, and the entire unit is molded from a single piece of plastic. The plastic is dark gray, except for the clear plastic window that covers the dial.
The back of the timer includes a single knob that can be rotated to adjust the volume level of the auditory alarm, and the alarm sounds from these speaker holes here. In the middle is the battery door, and it’s secured by a small screw. The timer operates on a single AA battery that lasts about a year.
The front of the timer includes a single knob. Rotating this knob sets the timer by aligning the red disk to the desired number of minutes—here the alarm is set for 15 minutes.
Fully rotated, the timer has a maximum setting of 59 minutes. As the timer counts down, the disk disappears behind a slit in the dial face to visually express the passage of time.
When the disk completely disappears, an alarm beeps four times—once per second for a total alarm duration of four seconds. At its loudest setting, the alarm registered at 75 decibels on our independent audio meter.
Here’s what I like about this timer: It’s reasonably loud and the volume level is adjustable to suit a variety of environments. It’s easy to carry thanks to the built-in handle, and it sits steady on any flat surface, thanks to the built-in feet.
The mechanical knob is simple to use and allows you to set alarms quickly, and the sealed design makes it easy to clean with a damp cloth.
What I most like about this timer is the disappearing red disk. I find this to be very effective in allowing me to experience the passage of time accurately, and the dial’s large face makes the timer hard to ignore.
This timer is most at home sitting on a flat surface such as a desk or counter top. There’s a slight backward slope to the design, and while this improves visibility from the front, the interplay between the slant, knobs, and feet make this timer hard to pack in a purse or backpack.
If you’re not careful you can accidentally push the front knob in too far and prevent the timer from working. This has happened to me on a couple of occasions, and I was able to reset the button by pulling it off and then sliding it back on. I recommend packing foam around the knob if you plan to carry this item in close quarters.
I also wish the alarm wasn’t limited to a maximum of 59 minutes, as I often work in stretches longer than this. And I would prefer having the speaker on the front of the device, as this would make the alarm easier to hear when it’s in front of you.
It would also be nice if the alarm lasted longer than 4 seconds. ADDers have a tendency to get lost in the moment, and the short alarm duration makes the alarm easier to ignore.
I had some difficulty in making out the volume level settings, as the demarcation lines are the same color as the body. To improve visual contrast, I’ve placed a small sticker next to my preferred setting, and I applied a dab of white paint to the knob.
I think this timer is best suited for classroom use with children, or for an adult that spends a lot of time in the one location close to a flat surface—mine sits on a desk in my office most of the time.
That’s all for now, so be kind, take good care of yourself, and reach out to me if you need a little help.
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