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Points of information
The information on this page is now outdated, and the app no longer links to it. It's still true that the POI button just starts a 15-second countdown, but since it seems to have gone fine so far, I don't have any plans to change this.
In Debatekeeper version 0.7, I added a timer for points of information. It's quite primitive at the moment: When you press the POI button, it starts a 15-second countdown. The countdown stops and resets if you press the button again, or if it's allowed to run down to zero, then it flashes the screen blue and/or vibrates the phone after 15 seconds elapses.
At the moment, you can't edit the POI length (i.e. it's set at 15 seconds). You also can't get it to make a sound (like a buzzer or bell). I haven't done this because I don't know what will be useful. This is where you come in. I need your feedback.
I'd really appreciate it if you'd send me your thoughts. If you can find my e-mail address, Facebook or Twitter, reach out to me there (by private or direct message), or open an issue on this repository. Specific questions in my mind follow:
I chose 15 seconds because WUDC and WSDC rules both limit POIs to 15 seconds, and I think that's the de facto standard for all the other styles of which I'm aware.
I'd like to make this configurable, but I'm not sure whether POI length is style-dependent, i.e. it should just be specified in a debate styles using the XML files, or if it should be a user preference, i.e. it is not style-specific but is more likely to be at a CA's (or an adjudicator's!) discretion. Guidance from persons more knowledgeable than me would be appreciated.
I've opted not to implement a buzzer sound when the POI time elapses, because when I use it, I don't think I can be bothered pressing the button again to stop the timer when the POI offerer has finished (I'm too busy writing down the POI)—and I don't want a buzzer to interrupt the speaker on the floor unnecessarily! So I find it easier just to let it run down to zero as the speaker starts responding, then it will just flash blue—but only I will be looking at it so it's okay.
I've seen judges say "fifteen" in the rare instance that the POI time does expire; I do the same. In fact, another reason not to use a buzzer is that speakers probably won't know what it means. "Fifteen" (or "order") makes it clear that the intervention is to make the POI offerer stop talking.
Do you think you would find a buzzer (or other sound) useful? If so, how should it work, so as not to go off unnecessarily? If you have a take on this, please let me know.