FocusBar

Adds a static color bar overlay that highlights elements of a page as you scroll.

FocusBar: Focus, Read, & Scroll Hands-Free A lightweight Chrome extension designed to enhance focus and readability by adding a customizable highlight bar overlay to web pages as you scroll​. Now featuring Auto-Scroll (Teleprompter Mode) and adjustable Focus Mode! With an easy-to-use interface, you can dynamically adjust the bar’s position, size, color, transparency, and background dimness to suit your reading preferences​. 🚀 KEY FEATURES * Auto-Scroll (Teleprompter Mode): Hands-free reading with adjustable speeds (0.25x to 3x). Smart detection works even on Google Docs! * Deep Focus Mode: Dim the rest of the page to spotlight only what you're reading. New: Control exactly how dark the background gets—from a light tint to pitch black. * Keyboard Shortcuts: Control the bar entirely with your keyboard (Alt+Shift+F to toggle). * Customizable Highlight Bar: Adjust the position, height, opacity, and color. * Global Cloud Sync: Your preferences (including dim levels and speed) sync via your Google account and persist across all websites and devices. * Lightweight: Minimal impact on browser performance with an intuitive user experience​. 🛠️ HOW TO USE 1. Install & Activate Click the FocusBar extension icon in the Chrome toolbar. Click the "FocusBar" button (or press Alt+Shift+F) to activate. 2. Customize the Bar Hover over the bar to reveal the floating toolbar: Move: Click and drag the bar, or use Arrow Up/Down. Resize: Drag the bottom edge, or use Shift + Arrow Up/Down. Style: Use the Color Circle to pick a color and the Left Slider to adjust bar opacity. Focus: Click the "Eye" icon to dim the background. Use the Right Slider (visible only in Focus Mode) to adjust how dark the background becomes. Reset: Click the arrow circle to restore defaults. 3. Auto-Scroll (Teleprompter) Click the Play button in the toolbar to start scrolling. Click the 1x button to cycle speeds: 0.25x (slow) -> 0.5x -> 1x -> 2x -> 3x (fast). ⌨️ KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Alt + Shift + F: Toggle FocusBar On/Off Arrow Up / Down: Move Bar Shift + Arrow Up / Down: Resize Bar Escape: Close Bar ❓ TROUBLESHOOTING Why isn’t the bar appearing? Some restricted pages (e.g., Chrome’s internal settings) don't allow extensions to modify content​. Ensure the extension is enabled and has necessary permissions. Auto-scroll isn't working? If the page has a unique layout, look for the "Cannot scroll this page" toast message. We try our best to detect the main content! 📅 REVISION HISTORY v1.3.0 - The "Deep Focus" Update 🌑 Adjustable Dim Level: You can now control the darkness intensity of Focus Mode. Global Settings: Improvements to chrome.storage.sync ensure your specific color, speed, and dim settings apply instantly across all tabs. Toolbar Refinement: Added dedicated sliders for both Bar Opacity and Background Dimness. v1.2.0 - Major Update 🌟 (Productivity Boost) Auto-Scroll: Added teleprompter-style scrolling with 5 speed options. Focus Mode: Dim the background for distraction-free reading. Keyboard Shortcuts: Full keyboard control for power users. Smart Compatibility: Improved scrolling support for Google Docs. UI Overhaul: Sleek new floating toolbar with "pill" design. v1.1.1 - Maintenance 🛠️ Simplified Toggling: Streamlined toggle behavior. Reset Functionality: Quickly revert settings to default. Bug Fix: Resolved bar repositioning visibility issues. v1.1.0 - Enhancements 🚀 Transparency Control: Adjust opacity with a slider. Color Picker: Choose any color. Caching: Settings persist across sessions.