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Steven Steiner edited this page Feb 17, 2021 · 1 revision

Exercise 1

🍅   INSTRUCTIONS

To get prepared for the brainstorming event, this exercise might help to organize your thoughts.

  1. Make a copy and label it with your name. Example: firstname-exercise1.md.
  2. In Part 1 add all your comments, concerns, and creative ideas on our project!
  3. For Part 2 and 3 please pick out an online Pomodoro app. It can be helpful to see what we like/don't like in the current market. (Also so we can be BETTER).
  4. For Part 4, try out the Pomodoro Technique if you haven't already. There are a few questions you can answer if your thoughts aren't in order.
  5. Please bring these ideas to the group meeting to share aloud. If you aren't comfortable with speaking to the group, please upload your responses to admin/exercises (aka this current directory) so we can see!

🍅   PART 1

Before you forgot them, list all your thoughts and creative ideas on the Pomodoro Timer we will build! Do you want to modify the technique? Do you have specific features in mind? Are there UI components you want to add? If you would prefer to use another tool (e.g. sticky notes, block diagrams), do that!

  • Add a blank space where user can input what their task is for their current pomodoro session
  • Add small notifications screen after each session
    • for example: "good job on completing the session"
    • if they didn't finish: "great effort, let's try again!"

🍅   PART 2

A bunch of random online Pomodoro timers have been listed. Please choose one (or more) that you would like to study. Add your name next to the timer you're claiming. I've currently limited each timer to 2 people just so we have an even distribution. Feel free to modify this list if there's a timer I'm missing.

Timer Person 1 Person 2
TomatoTimer Vy Lulu
PomoFocus Nicole
Tomato Timers Lulu
Pomodor Vy
Marinara Timer
Pomodoro Tracker

🍅   PART 3

Setup

  1. Was there a prompt to set the number of Pomodoros?
    • TomatoTimer: No, but the option exists hidden in settings and you can auto start pomos & breaks
    • Tomato Timers: No, but there's a to do list underneath
  2. Was there a prompt to set the Pomodoro or break time?
    • TomatoTimer: No prompt, but option exists
    • Tomato Timers: No prompt, but option exists
  3. What options (buttons, fields to enter) were given? (E.g. 'pause' button).
    • TomatoTimer: Start, Stop (pause essentially), Reset
    • Tomato Timers: Start, Pause, Reset
  4. Were you asked to log in/create an account?
    • TomatoTimer: No
    • Tomato Timers: No
  5. Was it obvious that it was a Pomodoro timer? How did you know?
    • TomatoTimer: Yes, it says Pomodoro in the options bar
    • Tomato Timers: Yes, they have an infographic on the Pomodoro method directly below

Work Session/Pomodoro

  1. What cues indicated it was Pomodoro/work time? For example, visual cues can include a change of color or a label of "work time"; audio cues could consist of a ticking noise.
    • TomatoTimer: No audio cues, No visual cues other than needing to be in the Pomodoro section and seeing the time tick down.
    • Tomato Timers: No audio cues, the graphic for the tomato changes to a studying version when you're in the Pomodoro section and you can see the time tick down.
  2. Was there any feedback on your progress? (E.g. bar at top of screen, percentage, time left).
    • TomatoTimer: Tell you time left in the tab text when you're in other tabs, and has time left in the center of the screen
    • Tomato Timers: Tell you time left in the tab text when you're in other tabs, and has time left in the center of the screen
  3. Was a clock the main feature? If so, please describe it (e.g. analog). If not, what was the main featue?
    • TomatoTimer: Yes, simple timer format
    • Tomato Timers: Sort of, it is in the center but I'd say the tomato drawing dominates the page.
  4. Did the interface distract you? (E.g. flashing, bright colors, etc.).
    • TomatoTimer: No
    • Tomato Timers: Yes, the bright colors and the changes in color in page sections, along with the big graphic designs.
  5. Did the interface help you focus? (E.g. silence notifications).
    • TomatoTimer: No
    • Tomato Timers: No

Transition

  1. When the app switched from work to break, was there a color change? Did you like it?
    • TomatoTimer: No color change
    • Tomato Timers: No color change
  2. When the app switched from work to break, was there a sound effect? Did you like it?
    • TomatoTimer: There is a buzzer noise, but I didn't like it because it sounds like an alarm and you can't stop it, you just let it play out. You can change it in settings
    • Tomato Timers: Bell sound, yes because it was pleasant but loud
  3. How did the app notify you to switch? Did you get a notification? A sound? Something in your browser?
    • TomatoTimer: No notification
    • Tomato Timers: No notification

Break Session

  1. How did you know if it was a short or long break?
    • TomatoTimer: You don't, you have to manually set it
    • Tomato Timers: You don't, you have to manually set it
  2. Were you given the option of (a) skipping a break, (b) short break, (c) long break? Or did you have no choice?
    • TomatoTimer: b, c
    • Tomato Timers: b, c
  3. What cues indicated it was break time? For example, visual cues can include a change of color or a label of "break time"; audio cues could consist of the sound of ocean waves.
    • TomatoTimer: audio cues, the sound for ending a session
    • Tomato Timers: audio cues, the sound for ending a session

End

  1. How did you end your session?
    • TomatoTimer: It either runs out of time naturally or you reset
    • Tomato Timers: It either runs out of time naturally or you reset
  2. Did you see how many Pomodoros you accomplished? If so, how was this provided?
    • TomatoTimer: It records them in log, but I didn't realize that option was there for the longest time
    • Tomato Timers: No

Final Thoughts

  1. What are 3 pros of this app?
    • TomatoTimer: Simple, necessities are easy to find, logs your pomodoros
    • Tomato Timers: Cute design, nice animations, includes infographic on pomodoros
  2. What are 3 cons of this app?
    • TomatoTimer: Some functionality not fleshed out fully, annoying buzzer sound that you can't stop, doesn't tell you what to do next (in terms of breaks, etc)
    • Tomato Timers: Distracting design, doesn't tell you what to do next, overwhelming content
  3. Would you use this app again?
    • TomatoTimer: Yes
    • Tomato Timers: Yes

Additional Comments

Add annotations, images, etc.

🍅   PART 4 (Bonus)

Try the Pomodoro Technique for a day. The traditional Pomodoro Technique is defined as:

A Pomodoro is a work session that lasts for 25 minutes.
If a work session is interrupted or paused, it is forfeited.
After a Pomodoro, take a 5 minute break.
Once you have completed 4 Pomodoros--a "set"--take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

Data

  1. How many Pomodoros did you do?
  2. Did you cancel/forfeit any Pomodoros? Why?
  3. How many short breaks did you take?
  4. How many long breaks did you take?
  5. How did you time yourself? (E.g. phone clock app or specific Pomodoro app)
  6. What device did you use for this timer? (E.g. phone, laptop)

Experience

  1. Did you initially plan how many Pomodoros you wanted to spend or did you wing it?
  2. If you planned the number, was this challenging or easy?
  3. Did you feel your productivity increased?
  4. Did you use traditional 25 minutes or did you modify that (E.g. 35 minutes)?
  5. Would you consider modifying the 25 minutes in the future?
  6. Did you feel like you often skipped a break?
  7. Did you often extend your break into a longer one?
  8. Would you use this technique again?
  9. What are 3 pros?
  10. What are 3 cons?
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