0014 timer mode display

Timer mode display

• Status: Accepted
• Date: 2021-02-21

Context and Problem Statement

What is the best way by which we could display the modes for the timer (work, short break, long break)?

Considered Options

• [Pomodoro] (Display current mode only)
• [Pomodoro | Short Break | Long Break] (Display all modes and emphasize current mode)
• [Pomodoro | Break] (Same as option 2 but not differentiating between short and long break)
• [Work] (Any variation of the above but with the use of the word ‘work’ instead of Pomodoro)

Decision Outcome

Chosen option: Among all the options, displaying the current mode only while using ‘work’ instead of ‘Pomodoro’ was chosen. The ultimate goal was to keep things as intuitive as possible for an audience who might not be familiar with the Pomodoro technique, and this choice best aligns with this goal by emphasizing that the user should only focus on the current mode of the timer.

Pros and Cons of the Options

[Pomodoro] (Display current mode only)

• Pros: Keeps things as simple as possible since there are less ideas to focus on
• Cons: Not immediately apparently how the app works

[Pomodoro | Short Break | Long Break] (Display all modes and emphasize current mode)

• Pros: Giving full display of all the modes might let the user more easily understand how the Pomodoro technique works
• Cons: Gives the illusion that the user can manually change to another mode

[Pomodoro | Break] (Same as option 2 but not differentiating between short and long break)

• Pros: Gives a more simplistic display as differentiating long and short break may not be seen as necessary
• Cons: Gives the illusion that the user can manually change to another mode, might confuse users not familiar with the Pomodoro technique when they arrive to the long break

[Work] (Any variation of the above but with the use of the word ‘work’ instead of Pomodoro)

• Pros: Using the word ‘work’ is more intuitive than the word ‘Pomodoro’