# TypingBreaks Typing on the keyboard for an extended period of time may lead to injuries, which is why it is highly recommended to take frequent breaks from the keyboard - and from the computer as well. But sometimes - more often than one would wish to admit - we tend to forget about this, and plow through, at the cost of hand's health. No more. With the `TypingBreaks` plugin, we can instruct the keyboard to lock itself up after some time, or after a number of key presses. It will stay locked for a few minutes (or whatever amount we told it to), forcing us to take a break. ## Using the plugin The plugin comes with reasonable defaults (see below), and can be used out of the box, without any further configuration: ```c++ #include <Kaleidoscope.h> #include <Kaleidoscope-EEPROM-Settings.h> #include <Kaleidoscope-TypingBreaks.h> KALEIDOSCOPE_INIT_PLUGINS(EEPROMSettings, TypingBreaks); void setup (void) { Kaleidoscope.setup (); TypingBreaks.settings.idle_time_limit = 60; } ``` ## Plugin methods The plugin provides a single object, `TypingBreaks`, with the following properties. All times are in seconds. ### `.settings.idle_time_limit` > The amount of time that can pass between two pressed keys, before the plugin > considers it a new session, and starts all timers and counters over. > > Defaults to 300 seconds (5 minutes). ### `.settings.lock_time_out` > The length of the session, after which the keyboard will be locked. > > Defaults to 2700 seconds (45 minutes). ### `.settings.lock_length` > The length until the keyboard lock is held. Any key pressed while the lock is > active, will be discarded. > > Defaults to 300 seconds (5 minutes). ### `.settings.left_hand_max_keys` > It is possible to lock the keyboard after a number of keys pressed, too. If > this happens sooner than the timeout, the keyboard will still be locked. > > This property controls how many keys can be pressed on the left side. > > Defaults to 0 (off). ### `.settings.right_hand_max_keys` > It is possible to lock the keyboard after a number of keys pressed, too. If > this happens sooner than the timeout, the keyboard will still be locked. > > This property controls how many keys can be pressed on the right side. > > Defaults to 0 (off). ## Focus commands ### `typingbreaks.idleTimeLimit [limit]` > Get or set the `.settings.idle_time_limit` property. ### `typingbreaks.lockTimeOut [time_out]` > Get or set the `.settings.lock_time_out` property. ### `typingbreaks.lockLength [length]` > Get or set the `.settings.lock_length` property. ### `typingbreaks.leftMaxKeys [max]` > Get or set the `.settings.left_hand_max_keys` property. ### `typingbreaks.rightMaxKeys [max]` > Get or set the `.settings.right_hand_max_keys` property. ## Dependencies * [Kaleidoscope-EEPROM-Settings](EEPROM-Settings.md) ## Further reading Starting from the [example][plugin:example] is the recommended way of getting started with the plugin. [plugin:example]: /examples/Features/TypingBreaks/TypingBreaks.ino