#4 Always on Aff/Neg Prep buttons

[Anonymous]

The buttons force you to go through the prep time
before every speech, although the speaker does not
always opt to use prep time before the speech,
usually after cross-x in the negative block of policy
debate. The Neg prep button before the 1NR should be
removed or the Aff/Neg prep buttons should always be
available.

[Jemmy]

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The neg prep before the 1NR accommodates teams with a weak 1st speaker
where the second Neg has to prep his/her partner's rebuttal. Since the timer was
optimized for handhelds with small displays, the buttons had to be large enough
for stylus-free finger operation, so there was little room left for additional
buttons. The strict button ordering also provides a form of idiot-proofing. Lay
judges may get confused over who is Aff/Neg and start prep for the wrong side.

[Jemmy]

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Debate Timekeeper 1.4 has a button to go from the cross-x
after the 2NC of policy debate directly to 1NR without
having to go through Neg prep. Has anyone found this
arrangement to be more confusing or awkward compared to
the original?