Multiple Concurrent Timers

[nelsonic]

@iteles similar to how you feel about categories,
I feel that having only one active timer severely limits the usefulness of this app.
We need to get votes on this from people using the app.

[nelsonic]

Maybe giving people the <option> of running multiple timers concurrently isn't such a good idea...

• Why the Human Brain Can't Multitask (FORA.tv - Nicholas Carr, author of "The Shallows"): https://youtu.be/BpD3PxrgICU
• Multitasking Is a Myth, and to Attempt It Comes at a Neurobiological Cost (Big Think - Psychology Professor Daniel Levitin): https://youtu.be/iM4u-7Z5URk
• Are You Multitasking Your Life Away? Cliff Nass at TEDxStanford: https://youtu.be/PriSFBu5CLs
• Single-tasking Is the New Multitasking (The Atlantic): https://youtu.be/KzbxpzKwDXA ... "It's like work but only one thing!"
• You think you can Multitask, but you can't! (Es Einsteinium): https://youtu.be/nM3xVPBA62M good summary of the academic research...
• The Myth of Multitasking Test (Dave Crenshaw): https://youtu.be/BCeGKxz3Q8Q "switch tasking is a thief of time".
• Work Smart: Stop Multitasking and Start Doing One Thing Really Well (FastCompany):
  https://youtu.be/MJuXV6AD93s
• Paolo Cardini: Forget multitasking, try monotasking: https://youtu.be/0YNeyBANrTI (not very informative/insightful. just advocates "finding your monotask".)

Should people run more than one timer at the same time...? #discuss

[iteles]

I'm trying to think of good examples of when this would be useful (i.e. when you'd need to categorise a task as two different things) and I keep thinking that if this is the case you need a better categorisation system.

We're trying to encourage focus , which would imply working deeply on one thing at a time.

[sohilpandya]

I am unsure about whether users should be allowed to run multiple timers at all. Does it detract from the focus side of things? IMO it does.

[iteles]

Working on one task at a time means one timer at a time. We haven't found a usecase for multiples yet

[nelsonic]

The only instance I could think of was running a concurrent timer
for both working on a task and being at a specific location e.g: standing desk.

But we definitely don't need this feature until people using the app request it. 👍

[iteles]

Somehow this request/feature got lost and we can now run multiple concurrent timers.

Paired with the fact that we don't yet have reordering of items dwyl/mvp#145 (and even once we have it) and that timers that are active timers don't bubble up to the top (I should open an issue for this because there's a bit to think through here), I have already ended up with two 'lost' timers running for a month 😆

(Remember I get hastily interrupted regularly 👶 )

Re-opening for discussion.

[nelsonic]

@iteles I use concurrent timers regularly.
e.g. "make lunch" is concurrent with "quality time with child".

But I agree that many people would want to automatically stop one timer when another is running.
This could be defined as a preference in settings.json dwyl/mvp#363 💭
And the default could be to allow concurrent timers
but to prompt the person the first time they try to run multiple concurrent timers.
e.g:

"You have two timers running at the same time, is this on purpose?
You can chose to only run one timer at a time - and automatically stop others -
or have multiple timers running at the same time if you prefer"

I'm sure we can draft better copy.

The question is: what the default be? 💭