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David Alderoty May 2022 The CenturyTimer and Related Concepts
The CenturyTimer is displayed below. This is followed by 2400 words about the CenturyTimer and related concepts. Most of the information in this document also applies to the GoalTimer. If you want the CenturyTimer without the text, click on www.TechForText.com/3000 If you want the CenturyTimer in the Microsoft Excel format click on www.TechForText.com/CenturyTimer/CenturyTimer.zip
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The CenturyTimer and Related Concepts
What is the CenturyTimer The CenturyTimer can countdown or count-up to a designated date set by the user. It can be set in one-minute intervals, ranging from January 1, 1900 at 12 AM to December 31, 9999, at 11:59 PM. The CenturyTimer displays changes in time every 30 seconds. It automatically carries out a series of calculations to display time in days, hours, minutes, seconds, deciseconds, centiseconds, milliseconds, microseconds, shakes (100 millionth of a second), and nanoseconds (1 billionth of a second).
The Primary Purpose of the CenturyTimer The CenturyTimer is primarily created for demonstration and/or experimental purposes. It is more or less an experiment created with Microsoft Excel and other software. However, there is a modified version of the CenturyTimer that does have practical utility, and it is described under the following two headings.
The GoalTimer is a Modified Version of the CenturyTimer, for Practical Utility I created a modified version of the CenturyTimer, for setting goals and deadlines. I am calling it the GoalTimer, and it can be accessed with the following URL: www.TechForText.com/GoalTimer The online version of the GoalTimer has three text boxes for writing about a goal or deadline. This can involve a brief list of the tasks that must be carried out to obtain an objective. The GoalTimer displays the number of days, hours, and minutes, remaining before a deadline or end date is reached. These readouts provide continuous feedback in relation to the number of days and hours available to complete the tasks that relate to a deadline or goal. Some examples are presented below: · A self-set deadline to complete a goal by a specified date · An official deadline for completion of a task · The deadline to file tax returns · The number of days available to study, before a final exam · The preparation for an event that starts on a specific date · The deadline for the renewal of a service contract · The number of days remaining before an event · A goal to lose a certain number of pounds by a specified date Unlike the CenturyTimer, the GoalTimer does NOT have readouts that are unnecessary for deadlines, such as deciseconds, centiseconds, milliseconds, microseconds, shakes, and nanoseconds. The readouts on the GoalTimer are rounded to eliminate decimals. However, the GoalTimer has the same basic features, and timing mechanism as the CenturyTimer. Thus most of the material presented in this article for the CenturyTimer, also applies to the GoalTimer, including the instructions.
The GoalTimer in the Microsoft Excel Format The GoalTimer is also available in the Microsoft Excel format, which has some advantages over the online version. Specifically, it provides more space to write about your goals and deadlines, and it reduces the possibility of losing the data you entered. With the online version, anything you write is stored in your Web browser. There are many ways that this data can be lost. The Excel format eliminates this problem. The GoalTimer in the Microsoft Excel format does not update the time and date automatically. The time and date is updated when the software is initially opened, and when you enter or delete data. In most cases, this will not be a significant problem. A more significant disadvantage is the GoalTimer in the Excel format requires Microsoft Excel. However, you can also use the GoalTimer with the FREE LibreOffice Calc. Calc can be obtained by downloading the free LibreOffice Suite from: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download
An Example of a COUNTDOWN DATE with the CenturyTimer The CenturyTimer is initially set to countdown to January 1, in the year 3000, at 12 am. This is a good example of a countdown date. Of course, this can be changed to any date and time within the range mentioned above. It can even be set to countdown from a point in time that is only a few minutes from the current time. To do this set the current date, then set a time that is a few minutes more than the current time. This is a good way to check the functionality of the CenturyTimer.
When the CenturyTimer is Counting Down to a Designated Date and Time
When counting down the CenturyTimer displays a negative sign next to the time readouts, with the words Countdown Time. For example, Countdown Time in Days, Countdown Time in Hours, Countdown Time in Minutes. The absolute value of the time readouts decrease until time zero is reached. After this, the timer starts counting upward, without a negative sign.
An Example of a Count-Up Date: THE DAY AND YEAR YOU WERE BORN For an example of count-up time, enter in the CenturyTimer, the date and time you were born. When this is done, the number of days, hours, and minutes, you were alive will be displayed. When the CenturyTimer counts-up from a designated date, the readouts do not have a negative sign, and they become larger with time. In addition, the words from Time Zero will be displayed, such as Days from Time Zero, Hours from Time Zero, and Minutes from Time Zero.
Precisely What is Time Zero? Based on the way the terminology is used here, time zero can be an end date, or start date. Time zero is the date and time entered in the five input boxes on top of the CenturyTimer. See the following screenshots:
An example of time zero involving countdown time
An example of time zero involving count-up time
The CenturyTimer Stores the Time and Date You Enter in Your Web Browser
The CenturyTimer stores the time and date you enter in your browser. That is if you set a date and time in the CenturyTimer, with a specific computer and browser, it will be retained after you close it and reopen it. This is assuming that browser storage was not disabled. However, if you reopen the CenturyTimer, with a different browser or a different computer, the date and time you previously entered would not be displayed. It probably is not wise to store valuable data in a web browser, without backup storage, because there are so many ways that it can be lost. For example, if you intentionally or accidentally cleared the data in your browser, the data you entered in the CenturyTimer would be deleted. However, with the CenturyTimer you are only dealing with a date and time, which can easily be reentered if it is accidentally deleted.
Instructions for the CenturyTimer The CenturyTimer provides instructions and other information in pop‑up notes. On the CenturyTimer, you will see the word PopUp in multiple locations. If you place your mouse cruiser on the word PopUp, instructions or other information will be displayed. However, even without the PopUp instructions, the CenturyTimer is very easy to use. The best way to understand the CenturyTimer is to experiment with it by entering several countdown and count-up dates and times. Just delete the month, day, and year in the white input boxes shown below. Then enter any date and time you prefer. Keep in mind, before entering or deleting a number, you must left click on the relevant white input box.
The month, day, and year, should be entered in the three input boxes shown in the following screenshot.
To set the time there are two input boxes with menus. One input box is for hours, and the other is for minutes.
When you left click on the white input boxes, displayed above menus will open, as shown below. Keep in mind you must open one menu at a time. This can involve setting the hour first, and then setting the minutes. See the following screenshots.
Daylight Saving Time and the CenturyTimer The CURRENT TIME and DATE displayed on the CenturyTimer, is updated automatically for Daylight Savings Time, or Standard Time, when your computer clock is updated. This usually takes place automatically with most computers and operating systems. Nevertheless, there is a special correction mechanism built-into the CenturyTimer. This mechanism is needed to make corrections when time zero and the current time ARE NOT BOTH on Daylight Savings Time or NOT BOTH on Standard Time. In this case, the readouts would be one hour off without the correction mechanism. The correction mechanism activates automatically when time zero is an end date. When time zero is a start date, there is no automatic correction mechanism. However, there is a manual correction mechanism built into the CenturyTimer. Note, it was not feasible to create an automatic correction mechanism when time zero is a start date. This is because historically Daylight Savings Time was NOT always defined as the second Sunday in March. For example, in 1924 it started in April and ended in September. In 1974, the entire year was on daylight savings time. In 1990, it started in April and ended in October.
A Mechanism to Correct the Start Date and End Date of Daylight Savings Time
Currently in the East Coast of the United States, Daylight Savings Time starts on the second Sunday in March, and ends on the first Sunday in November. However, this might change in the future, or it may not apply to your locality. To deal with this, there is a correction mechanism for the start date and end date of daylight savings time, on the CenturyTimer. Keep in mind this mechanism functions when using the automatic correction mechanism for daylight savings time. If you are making corrections manually for daylight savings time, this mechanism is irrelevant. To change the dates and/or time to a later period, enter positive numbers, such as 1, 2, 3. To change the dates and/or time to an earlier period enter negative numbers, such as -1,-2,-3. See the following screenshots
I made some erroneous changes for demonstration purposes, which can be seen in the following screenshots.
Turning Off the Automatic Correction Mechanism for Daylight Savings Time The automatic correction mechanism for Daylight Savings Time can be turned off by placing the letter X in the input box displayed below. This is useful for localities that do not have daylight savings time.
When the automatic mechanism is on the following words are displayed:
When the automatic mechanism is off the following words are displayed:
The Manual Correction Mechanism for Daylight Savings Time The CenturyTimer also has a MANUAL MECHANISM for making corrections for Daylight Savings Time. When this feature is used, the automatic correction mechanism turns off, without any intervention. The manual correction mechanism is especially useful when time zero is a start date. This generally involves entering 1 or -1 in the input box. For accurate calculations, time zero must be on the same time standard as the current time. The corrections are made by putting time zero on the same time standard as the current time. When 1 is entered, it puts time zero on a fake daylight savings time. When -1 is entered, it puts time zero on a fake standard time. See the following screenshot, and additional explanations.
THE MANUAL CORRECTION MECHANISM
Keep in mind that time zero and the current time must BOTH be on Daylight Savings Time or BOTH on Standard Time. If this is not the case, the readouts will be off by one hour. To make corrections time zero is put on a fake daylight savings time, or a fake standard Time. This is done so it will be on the same time standard as the current time.
(CASE 1: If the current date is on Daylight Savings Time and time zero is on standard time, enter 1, which puts time zero on a fake Daylight Savings Time.
CASE 2: If the current date is on Standard Time and time zero is on Daylight Savings Time enter -1, which puts time zero on a fake Standard Time.
Corrections for Daylight Savings Time Are Displayed on the CenturyTimer Any corrections made automatically or manually are displayed on the CenturyTimer as shown in the following screenshot:
I entered some erroneous corrections for demonstration purposes, which are shown in the following screenshots:
The following examples involve turning the clock forward, by entering 2
The following three examples involve turning the clock backwards by entering -1, -2, -100
Keep in mind that even without corrections for daylight savings time the readout will never be more than one hour off. This probably will make no practical difference, if your time zero involves over 100 hours.
How the CenturyTimer was Created The CenturyTimer was created using Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet-Converter, and the Sothink HTML Editor. SpreadsheetConverter converts the Microsoft Excel format to HTML JavaScript for the web. With the Sothink HTML Editor, the converted HTML JavaScript format was slightly modified. This was done to improve appearance, and create a timing mechanism that updates every 30 seconds. For the timing mechanism the following HTML code was used: <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="30"> This code was necessary because the timing mechanism provided by Microsoft Excel does not change automatically. The time is updated in Excel when the software is open, and/or when data is entered or deleted.
The Formulas and Structure of the CenturyTimer The actual structure of the CenturyTimer is very complicated, and it involves many formulas. The best way to understand its internal structure and related formulas is to download and study it in the Microsoft Excel format. The following download is essentially the CenturyTimer with EXPOSED FORMULAS, in the Microsoft Excel format. www.TechForText.com/CenturyTimer/ForStudy.zip The formulas and the internal structure of the CenturyTimer is displayed in this download. You can HIDE or DISPLAY the formulas in Microsoft Excel by simultaneously pressing Ctrl and the Grave Accent key. (The Grave Accent key is next to the number 1 on the keyboard, and it is just above the Tab key.) An alternative way of hiding or displaying formulas is to left click on the Formula tab in Microsoft Excel, and then click on Show Formulas. See the screenshots below:
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