Copyright: Copyright ® 1995 Tropical Software


The Ergonomic Timer

Copyright  Tropical Software, 1995. All Rights Reserved.

The Ergonomic Timer provides relief from repetitive stress problems by monitoring the mouse, the keyboard and the time spent at the workstation. When the programmable number of mouse clicks, keystrokes or minutes occur, an exercise screen pops up and coaches you through the selected exercises.

Table of Contents

Must Read

Disclaimer

Order Form

Introduction

Screens

The Main screen

The Do an Exercise screen

The Timer settings screen

The Exercise settings screen

The Timeout Notification screen

The Activation Screen

How To ...

Do Exercises

Change Timer settings

Change Exercise settings

Menu Commands

File menu

Timer menu

View menu

Help menu

Technical Suppport


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

Do Exercise	Brings the Exercise screen with all the exercises available
Settings	Brings the Exercise Settings screen, settings can be added, deleted or modifyed.


Timer menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

Go	Activates the Ergonomic Timer and starts counting mouse clicks, keystrokes and minutes
Stop	Stops counting mouse clicks, keystrokes and minutes
Reset	Resets the counters to their initial values
Do it now!	Do the exercises now as if a counter has reached zero


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Index	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
Using Help	Provides general instructions on using help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your Ergonomic Timer session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  Ergonomic Timer prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Ergonomic Timer window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The 3 areas of the status bar show the number of mouse clicks, mouse moves and  keystrokes that occurred since the ergonomic Timer started.

Obs. When the timer is paused, it doesn't count mouse clicks, mouse moves or keystrokes.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using Ergonomic Timer and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of Ergonomic Timer.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of Ergonomic Timer.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the Ergonomic Timer window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Document Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the document

Restore button


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the Ergonomic Timer window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Next Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  Ergonomic Timer determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open document window.  Ergonomic Timer determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Shortcuts

ALT+F4 Exits the Ergonomic Timer


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.

<< If you wish to author help specific to each message box prompt, then remove the AFX_HIDP_xxx values from the [ALIAS] section of your .HPJ file, and author a topic for each AFX_HIDP_xxx value.  For example, AFX_HIDP_INVALID_FILENAME is the help topic for the Invalid Filename message box. >>


View Tool Bar Command
Tool Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Tool Bar.

See Tool Bar for help on using the tool bar.


Tool Bar


Disclaimer

Be careful with all of the exercises. It is possible to injure yourself. Consult your physician before doing any exercise.

Ergonomic Timer is supplied as is without warranty of any kind.

Tropical Software hereby disclaims all warranties and guarantees regarding the use, or the results of use, of Ergonomic Timer in terms of correctness, accuracy, reliability or otherwise.

Tropical Software will not be responsible for any incidental, consequential, direct or indirect damages, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, business interruption and loss of information resulting from the correct or otherwise use of Ergonomic Timer even if Tropical Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

By installing Ergonomic Timer, you acknowledge that you have read this limited warranty, understand it, and agree to be bound by it's terms and conditions.

You also agree that the limited warranty is the complete and exclusive statement of agreement between the parties and supersede all proposals or prior agreements, oral or written, and any other communications between the parties relating to the subject matter of the Limited warranty.


Order form

When you order Ergonomic Timer, you receive an "Activation Code" so you can start using the program immediately. You also receive the release package containing an installation disk that doesn't require activation for use in the case of changing computers. (it is not necessary to install the contents of that disk over the activated program)

Have the following information ready:

Installation Code (From the Activation screen)

______________________________________________________

Name    ______________________________________________

Company ______________________________________________

Street  ______________________________________________

        ______________________________________________

City    ______________________________________________

State   _________                     ZIP ____________

Country ______________________________________________

Telephone Number _____________________________________

E-Mail  ______________________________________________

Comments/Suggestions _________________________________

______________________________________________________

Price:

Ergonomic Timer (in US$)......................... 29.00

Florida residents add 6.5% sales tax....................._________

Shipping and handling.................................... 4.00

                                                        ============

            Total in US$................................._________

Site License available, contact Tropical Software for details.

Ordering by check:  To order by check send this order form and a check to:

Tropical Software

27 Georgetown Dr.

Eatontown, NJ 07724

Checks can be in US$ or the equivalent in a foreign currency + 10% (bank charges).

Ordering by credit card:  For information on ordering by Master Card, Visa,

American Express, or Discover by phone, FAX, email, or postal mail, click here:

Credit Card Ordering Information

Ordering via Compuserve:  Compuserve users can order Ergonomic Timer on-line. Enter the command GO SWREG and follow the instructions.

The Ergonomic Timer registration id is 10575.

The ordering price will be added to your Compuserve bill.

Ergonomic Timer is only shipped on 3.5 inch disks.

To contact Tropical Software:

- Compuserve -  73742,1104

- Internet   - sales@tropsoft.com

               http://www.tropsoft.com/tropsoft

- Mail       -  27 Georgetown Dr.

                Eatontown, NJ 07724


Ordering by Credit Card
Credit Card Ordering

Credit Card Ordering

Master Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover orders for PC Security for Windows

 must be placed through PsL, a credit card order taking service.  You can reach PsL 24

hours a day 7 days a week by fax at 1-713-524-6398, by Compuserve mail to

71355,470, or Internet mail to 71355.470@compuserve.com.  You can also call

PsL at 1-800-242-4PsL(4775) or 1-713-524-6394 between the hours of 7:00 am

and 6:00 pm CST Monday-Thursday and 7:00 am and 12:30 pm CST on Fridays,

except holidays.

Credit card orders can be mailed to PsL at P.O. Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235

USA.

Ask for Order # 14466

PsL requires the following information:

Credit Card:  [ ] Master Card [ ] VISA [ ] AMEX [ ] Discover

Credit Card Number:

Expiration Date:

Name On Card:

Billing Address:

Tropical Software cannot be reached at the numbers above.

These numbers are for PsL, a credit card order taking service only.

Any questions about the status of the shipment of an order, refunds, registration

options, product details, technical support, volume discounts, dealer pricing, site

licenses, etc., must be directed to Tropical Software:

- Compuserve -  73742,1104

- Internet   - sales@tropsoft.com

               http://www.tropsoft.com/tropsoft

- Mail       -  27 Georgetown Dr.

                Eatontown, NJ 07724


Introduction
Introduction to the Ergonomic Timer

To keep in a state of good health, the human body must move with a great range of mobility.

In todays office environment, there is very little movement needed. In fact because of computer automation, there is excessive upper-body immobility, with the wrists and fingers doing all of the physical work. This overload of work to the wrist, hands, and fingers, leads to specific problems relating to this region of the body.

The best way to deal with the pain associated with the over-work in this region, is to constantly be aware of how you are feeling in these specific areas. If you are feeling pain. it is important to give these areas a periodic rest, a stretch, or both.

We know that managing time can be difficult at times and this is what the Ergonomic Timer program does for you. It automatically reminds you when to stretch and when to take a break. It  also allows you to  custom design a program to fit your needs.

We recommend to complete the whole program  for a better stretch and relaxation for your upper body. We do realize however, that you may have specific time restraints, and other limitations. This is  why you can choose to do specific exercises and eliminate others. You can  also control how frequently the exercises appear on the screen , as well as the time to do them in. The recommended times are a general guide to acheive maximum comfort. Customization is the key to your optimun health benefit. We hope this program will help you maintain good health while working on your computer.

It is also important not to forget to  exercise your eyes. A good eye exercise is to focus on something far away and then focus on something very close. Another exercise is to keep your head still, circle your eyes around . Move them slowly and at the farthest extremes possible  towards the top, towards the right, down and towards the left. Repeat to the left side. This will help  relax the eyes.

Warning:

Be careful with all of these exercises. It is possible to injure yourself. Consult your physician before doing any exercise.


Technical Support

- Compuserve -  73742,1104

- Internet   -  support@tropsoft.com

                 http://www.tropsoft.com/tropsoft/techsprt.htm

- Mail       -  27 Georgetown Dr.

                Eatontown, NJ 07724

If desired, include your phone # with the problem description and we'll call back.

While technical support is offered free of charge, the associated telephone costs are significant in relation to the cost of this product, therefore we will call collect. (reversed charges)


The main screeen
The main screen

(click on the picture for explanations)


Do Exercises
Do an Exercise

Press this button to start the Do an Exercise screenAll the exercises will be present in the list.


Timer and Exercise Settings
Timer Settings

Press this button to start the Timer Settings screen.

The Exercise Settings screen is activated from within the Timer Settings screen.


Start Timer

Press this button to start the timer.

When the timer is active, the time lapse, keystrokes and mouse clicks are being counted.


Stop Timer

Press this button to stop the timer, as when you know that you'll be out for a while or when someone borrows your computer.

Press the Start Timer button make it active again.


Reset Timer

Press this button to reset all counters so they start counting from the beginning.


Do Now

Press this button to do the exercises immediately.

Press it when you decide that it's a good time for it.

Only the selected exercises for the current setting will be performed.


Status Panel
The Status Panel

This panel shows the current status for Ergonomic Timer.


Timer and Exercise Settings Screen
The Timer Settings Screen

This screen provides the ability to add, delete or change settings.

  Click on the arrow and select the desired setting. If you just want to select the setting without modifications, press the Ok button right after the selection.You can also modify the explanation.

 These controls let you select the counters to be active (in the example all counters are active). For each counter, you can set the interruption value. In the example, the timer will interrupt after 60 minutes or after 3000 keystrokes or after 1000 mouse clicks (whatever happens first).The timer will restart all the counters if the computer is idle for the amount of minutes specified in the Idle restart in minutes field

 These set of controls let's you select what exercises will be performed by the current setting. Highlight the exercise and select the "Do it" or the "Don't do it" button.

 A little explanation about the highlighted exercise.

 Press this button to bring the Exercise Settings screen

 Press this button to add a new setting. The system will prompt you for the name of the new setting. The new setting will be copied from the Default setting (without the explanation).Enter the explanation, modify all the desired values and press Ok to save (and select) the new setting.

 Press this button to delete the current selection.

 Press this button to save the changes and make the current selection active.

 Press this button to cancel any modification made.


Exercise Settings Screen
The Exercise Settings Screen

This screen provides the ability change the exercise settings.

{bml exsgstep.bmp} Every exercise can have up to 4 stages. The stage is active when there is a checkmark in it's checkbox. The middle control contains instructions on the corresponding stage. The number of seconds for that stage follows.In the example, the exercise will have stage 1 performed for 5 seconds.

 This tells how many times this exercise will be performed.

{bml exsgexpl.bmp} A little explanation about the exercise. To change the explanation, make the desired modification and later press Ok.

 Press this button to save the changes.

 Press this button to cancel any modification made.

Warning: The exercise settings should only be changed under medical supervision.


Do the Exercise Screen
Do an Exercise Screen

This screen has 2 modes of operation: the normal mode and the Non Stop mode.

In the normal mode the exercises are performed one at a time uppon pressing the Go button. This is the operating mode when the Do an Exercise button is pressed.

In the Non Stop mode, the exercises are performed one after the other without pause. This is the operating mode for when a Timeout occurs (one of the counters reach 0) or when the Do Now button is pressed.

The modes can be toggled by the [image] control.

 Press the arrow and select an exercise.

This is the intruction for the exercise stage, the active stage is signaled by the blinking light

 This button controls the sound. When the sound is on, there is a beep between exercise stages and between exercises.

 Selects the previous exercise in the list

 Restarts the current exercise

 Pauses the performance of the current exercise. Press Pause again or Go to continue.

 Starts the current exercise (or continue if it's paused).

 Selects the next exercise in the list

 Closes the screen.


Timeout notification Screen
The Timeout notification Screen

This screen pops up when one of the counters reaches 0.

Try hard not to ignore the interruption, it is when we are tthe busiest that the injuries occur.

(click on the picture for explanations)


Press this button to do the exercises.


Press this button to not do the exercises this time and reset the counters.

Shame on you!


Press this button to stop the timer.


The Activation screen
Help for the The Activation screen

Ergonomic Timer is widely distributed in the form of "Activationware".

By "Activating" Ergonomic Timer, it enters normal operation while maintaining all of the current settings. No reinstallation required.

Activation is accomplished by selecting the Activate menu, contacting Tropical Software with the displayed Installation Code and entering the given Activation Code. (see Order Form for the latest prices)

Controls:

Press this button (or Alt+W) to display the Order Form.

An unique installation code is assigned to your system. Take note of this code, it is upon this code that the activation code is generated.

Enter the activation code here.

Press this button (or Alt+O) to activate the program.

Press this button (or Alt+C) to close the screen without activating.