DavidLJ
03-06-2014, 11:33 AM
I've added another small tool to the suite available for free download from http://davesastrotools.weebly.com/. It is TalkingTimer. This is a spoken countdown clock (Windows only) which might be useful, for example, when taking astro images and you want to be reminded of the progress of the camera's total pre-set exposure time(s) without having to see your computer screen.
I created TalkingTimer because my new camera/telescope setup is somewhat sensitive to ambient light such as the light from my laptop screen reflected off the inside of my observatory dome. I can now cover my computer screen and get an audible progress report each time the pre-selected time interval comes around. At the end of the total countdown period an end report is given and then optionally repeated continuously until it is switched off.
Sensibly, once the countdown is set to run, the application window can be minimised so that it does not clutter up the screen.
Maximum report time - 24 hours
Minimum report time - 1 minute
Available report time intervals 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes.
I created TalkingTimer because my new camera/telescope setup is somewhat sensitive to ambient light such as the light from my laptop screen reflected off the inside of my observatory dome. I can now cover my computer screen and get an audible progress report each time the pre-selected time interval comes around. At the end of the total countdown period an end report is given and then optionally repeated continuously until it is switched off.
Sensibly, once the countdown is set to run, the application window can be minimised so that it does not clutter up the screen.
Maximum report time - 24 hours
Minimum report time - 1 minute
Available report time intervals 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes.