Bad app design: BOTH clocks should be at top of screen

This is a case where a compulsion for symmetry is a liability.
Each player’s clock is right under where the thumbs hover in speed chess meaning one’s own clock is often obscured which can cause people to lose track of their time at critical moments.

This has happened to me many times because while I can easily see my opponent’s clock always, my own clock is often not in plain view or easy to see at the same time.

That is NOT how OTB speed chess works where the clocks are both visible in close proximity at all times. It is a design flaw and it should be corrected. It is the sensible, respectable, fair and responsible thing to do.

Can you type it in a more simple way?

@jack_be_nimble said in #1:
> This is a case where a compulsion for symmetry is a liability.
> Each player’s clock is right under where the thumbs hover in speed chess meaning one’s own clock is often obscured which can cause people to lose track of their time at critical moments.
>
> This has happened to me many times because while I can easily see my opponent’s clock always, my own clock is often not in plain view or easy to see at the same time.
>
> That is NOT how OTB speed chess works where the clocks are both visible in close proximity at all times. It is a design flaw and it should be corrected. It is the sensible, respectable, fair and responsible thing to do.
Please type in more simple way.

@tejaspait said in #2:
> Can you type it in a more simple way?

Just read the subject line. That way you won't have to work so hard to comprehend the specifics.

I'm trying to address a a mature intelligent audience, reasonable, honest and perceptive enough to realize and admit that putting a critical countdown timer in a location necessarily obscured periodically by the consumer who needs it is not a well-thought out or functional design.

In fact, that clock placement is simply an accident waiting to happen, It has, without a doubt caused a lot of people to lose track of precious final seconds of a speed chess game, and led to unnecessary losses when both clocks are very low on time.

Consider how a chess clock is placed in a formal game. Both clocks *right next to each other* both always unobscured and one can see them both relative to other in a quick glance. This is not so with the way the lichess phone apps work, where the emphasis seems to be on a symmetrical aesthetic rather than the all-important optimal functionality.

I agree wholeheartedly !!!!
It would be a great improvement for blitz players.
At least add it as an option .....

@Boobie2 said in #5:
> I agree wholeheartedly !!!!
> It would be a great improvement for blitz players.
> At least add it as an option .....

Thanks, yes, an option at least. Interesting how people who vote this down don't bother to reply to mention what specifically they're objecting to or to suggest why they think my post is wrong or not a good idea.

Sorry if 'Bad App Design' offended anyone's ego. it is actually a superb site and app, which is why I migrated from Chess.com years ago, and even pay monthly because I appreciate the brilliance and hard work of the developers as well as the number of options and flexibility.

I just meant that I believe specifically the *clock* placement is a bad choice for a case where one clock gets often hidden by thumbs.

I mean at first the symmetry makes sense, but when you consider the maxim "form follows function" you realize that in this case function is following form and so it doesn't function well as the top priority.

I think what's offensive is not your title as much as assuming everyone plays chess with their thumbs