Techniquest - Reaction Timer
Originally uploaded by roblonolean.

Techniquest - Brief One

Reaction Timer

Ones reaction time is very important in many day to day activities, though it is not often measured. That is why I chose to write about a device called the ‘Reaction Timer.’ The machine itself comprises of an upright cabinet, with a colour screen, three interactive buttons (red, yellow & blue) and a green buzzer button. The aim of the device is to obtain a reading of how well the user reacts to a series of predetermined trials; therefore giving an accurate indication of how quickly the users reaction is to these tests. The tests are split into two sections, with eight initial trials concerned with how quickly the user reacts to either a flash of light, on hearing a sound or feeling a vibration on the green pad. Once a flash of light, a sound or the buzzer goes off, the user must press any three of the buttons as quickly as possible. The next series comprises of three more trials under the banner “Thinking timer,” where the user must press a button of the right colour when prompted to. After all the tests are completed, the machine draws a bar graph which gives a visual representation of how well the users reaction to sound, sight, touch and thought is.

Before you start using the machine, the user is asked to either “Choose Red for English or Blue for Welsh.” This means that people who can read either of these two languages can use the device. Specifically the product is aimed at children of primary and early secondary school age, however it is still accessible to older people. It is an appropriate height and has large enough buttons for all such users, although people with disabilities may find it more difficult to use (especially if the user has been unfortunate enough to lose an arm or is hard of hearing).

There are clear educational and entertainment values associated with this device. It is fun to use, with bright colours, making it engaging and entertaining for it’s young intended target audience. It’s educational purpose is to help promote stimulation for young minds and allows the user to engage three of the five senses (sight, touch, hearing). In addition, It’s beneficial to the user because it helps improved concentration and reflexes. However there are a few key flaws with the device, which distort the accuracy of the tests. Firstly the sound it emits is far too quiet to hear & thereafter react too, especially given the noisy surroundings. Furthermore, during the first series of tests the user is asked to “Put one hand on the green pad” to feel for a buzz. When the buzzer goes off, one of the other three buttons must be pressed, which could possibly lengthens ones reaction time. In addition to this, given that the user must have one hand on the green pad at all times, that hand could interfere when reaching for one of the other buttons.