Google Timer - JAWS

Using the Google Timer with JAWS V15

Something a little bit different today, how about setting and running a timer via Google search? Yes, you can actually do this and it saves you having to take a chance on some dodgy piece of egg-timer shareware. Let's walk through how you run a timer in Google Search using JAWS:

1. Visit the main search page in Google www.google.co.uk
2. Focus will be forced to the main search edit field. Type in: timer for 30 seconds then confirm with the ENTER key.
3. Your chosen time limit will now be visually indicated by a value in an edit field near the top of the newly loaded results page. The countdown begins immediately and you can keep tapping the JAWS quick key of E (for edit fields) to move between your search and time edit fields.
4. If for any reason the timer has not started, use the DOWN ARROW to move to the "start" option and use SPACEBAR to activate it.
5. As the timer is ticking down (note that as the timer ticks down there is no audio feedback) you may want to check your focus with INSERT UP ARROW. If you have moved on to the next related option labelled "Reset" then use the UP ARROW to refocus back on the option labelled "Stop". Use this option if you need to pause the timer - also, when the alarm is sounding the "Stop" option becomes instead an "OK" option.
6. When the time limit is reached you will hear a beeping sound, tap the SPACEBAR while focused on the "OK" option to silence the alarm.

Let me reinforce the above by going through another example here. This time I am running a 45 second timer where I need to stop it about halfway through:

1. I type "timer for 45 seconds" in the main Google Search field and use ENTER to run the search. Focus moves to the results page and the timer starts immediately.
2. I tap the E quick key to keep moving between the two available edit fields, focusing back on the time field is the only way I can get a general idea of how much time is left.
3. With focus on the time edit field, I use the DOWN ARROW to focus on the "Stop" option when I am around 22 seconds.
4. I restart the timer by pressing the SPACEBAR on the "Start" option.
5. The timer counts down to zero and sounds the alarm.
6. I focus on the "OK" option and tap the SPACEBAR to silence the alarm.
7. I ALT F4 to close down Firefox. I'm done!

And there you go - a timer via Google Search. Have fun playing around with this one!