Pattern 19
Timing has an honest granularity
Match visual following to the timing data that actually exists.
Concrete takeaway
Use word-level karaoke only with reliable word timing for the exact recording and edition.
Choose an approach
These are editorial decision conditions to validate. Some alternatives are successive states or can be combined; they are not always exclusive choices.
| Alternative | Use when | Tradeoff or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| A · Word timing | Exact word alignment exists for this recording | Word cues can distract and require evaluation |
| B · Sentence timing | Reliable sentence or phrase boundaries exist | A sentence can span several verses |
| C · Verse timing | Only verse timing exists | Verse cues cannot honestly show the spoken word |
The problem
Word highlighting can look precise even when the source contains only verse-level or approximate timing.
The pattern
Use word-level karaoke only with reliable word timing for the exact recording and edition. Sentence or phrase cues require corresponding boundaries; verse cues require verse timing. If only chapter timing exists, show a chapter-level Now playing state. If no alignment exists, offer listening without synchronised cues. The finest available timing is a capability, not a requirement: readers may prefer coarser cues or no highlighting. Do not distribute verse duration evenly across words and present it as accurate. Treat generated alignment as estimated until evaluated. Granularity, cue style and automatic following are separate decisions.
Compare the alternatives
Match visual following to the timing data that actually exists.
A · Word timing
Psalm 23:1 · KJV
Only the active word receives the karaoke cue.
B · Sentence timing
A sentence or phrase may span verse boundaries.
C · Verse timing
Verse-level timing does not imply word precision.
Original wireframe proposals · No live controls · Grey rows represent schematic text, not loading states · Labelled placeholders are not Scripture quotations
Download this wireframe as SVGFailure modes
Invented word timing; highlighting the wrong text after changing translation; saving the playback highlight as a personal annotation.
Bible and faith considerations
Timing is specific to the recording, edition and text alignment. Supported granularity can differ between editions and books. With no usable alignment, keep the Now playing reference and manual reading available; do not fake synchronisation.
What to validate
Compare markers with audio over varied speeds, long verses and interruptions. Check what happens when timing is absent or inaccurate.
Research-informed design proposal. These visual alternatives have not been tested with users in this atlas. Source findings, documented behaviour and this proposed adaptation are different kinds of evidence.
Sources and adaptation
This card is an original design synthesis. The following sources inform its content distinctions, interaction approach or review requirements; they do not validate the whole pattern.
- EPUB Media OverlaysRelevant specification section reviewed · Not proof of a particular Bible app implementation.
- Android Audio BibleOfficial help article reviewed · Documented behaviour; no direct product usability audit performed.
Common scenarios and flows
- Listen, pause narration and repeat — Create a bounded listening-and-reflection session.
Design principles in this decision
Editorial application of Missional by Design. These values frame review questions; they do not validate a pattern’s effectiveness.
- Hospitality — Who can use this approach in their actual context, and what complete alternative exists for someone who cannot?
- Honesty — Could this interface lead a person to infer more authority, certainty, privacy or human support than the service provides?
- Costliness — Who pays for this convenience through time, labour, privacy, risk or exclusion, and can the organisation support its promise?
Compare alternatives using the task and evidence above. Record competing needs instead of treating a principle as an automatic verdict.