diff --git a/src/Animation.cpp b/src/Animation.cpp
index 5934abb..322a478 100644
--- a/src/Animation.cpp
+++ b/src/Animation.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Animation::Animation()
 {
-    timer.toggle(sb::Timer::OFF);
+    timer.off();
 }
 
 void Animation::play(float delay, bool play_once)
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ void Animation::play(float delay, bool play_once)
     this->delay = delay;
     play_state = true;
     paused = false;
-    previous_step_time = timer.ms_elapsed();
+    previous_step_time = timer.elapsed();
     overflow = 0;
     ending = play_once;
     if (delay <= 0)
     {
-        timer.toggle(true);
+        timer.on();
     }
 }
 
@@ -31,19 +31,19 @@ void Animation::play_once(float delay)
 
 void Animation::pause()
 {
-    timer.toggle(false);
+    timer.off();
     paused = true;
 }
 
 void Animation::unpause()
 {
-    timer.toggle(true);
+    timer.on();
     paused = false;
 }
 
 void Animation::reset()
 {
-    timer.toggle(false);
+    timer.off();
     play_state = false;
     timer.reset();
 }
@@ -53,25 +53,25 @@ bool Animation::playing(bool include_delay) const
     return play_state && !paused && (include_delay || delay <= 0);
 }
 
-void Animation::update()
+void Animation::update(float timestamp)
 {
-    timer.update();
+    timer.update(timestamp);
     if (playing() && containing_object->is_active())
     {
         if (delay > 0)
         {
-            delay -= timer.ms_last_frame();
+            delay -= timer.frame();
             if (delay <= 0)
             {
-                timer.toggle(true);
+                timer.on();
             }
         }
         if (delay <= 0)
         {
-            if (timer.ms_elapsed() - previous_step_time + overflow > frame_length)
+            if (timer.elapsed() - previous_step_time + overflow > frame_length)
             {
-                overflow = timer.ms_elapsed() - previous_step_time + overflow - frame_length;
-                previous_step_time = timer.ms_elapsed();
+                overflow = timer.elapsed() - previous_step_time + overflow - frame_length;
+                previous_step_time = timer.elapsed();
                 step();
                 if (ending)
                 {
diff --git a/src/Animation.hpp b/src/Animation.hpp
index 74fdb8b..f84008b 100644
--- a/src/Animation.hpp
+++ b/src/Animation.hpp
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ class Animation
 private:
     
     bool play_state = false, ending = false, paused = false;
-    int previous_step_time = 0;
-    float delay = 0, overflow = 0, frame_length = 0;
+    float delay = 0.0f, overflow = 0.0f, frame_length = 0.0f, previous_step_time = 0.0f;
     callback step = nullptr;
     Node* containing_object = nullptr;
     sb::Timer timer = sb::Timer();
@@ -35,19 +34,22 @@ public:
 
     Animation();
 
-    /* Constructor that allows passing a pointer to an object and a pointer to one of its
+    /*!
+     * Constructor that allows passing a pointer to an object and a pointer to one of its
      * member functions that will be used as the animation function. Frame length can be supplied
-     * in milliseconds, representing how often the animation function will run. If omitted, the
-     * animation function will run every time the Animation object is updated (generally, once per
-     * frame of the application). */
+     * in seconds, representing how often the animation function will run. If omitted, the
+     * animation function will run every time the Animation object is updated.
+     */
     template<typename T>
     Animation(void(T::*member_function)(), T* object, float frame_length = 0) : frame_length(frame_length)
     {
         bind(member_function, object);
-        timer.toggle(sb::Timer::OFF);
+        timer.off();
     }
 
-    /* Set the animation function by supplying an object and one of its member functions */
+    /*!
+     * Set the animation function by supplying an object and one of its member functions.
+     */
     template<typename T>
     void bind(void(T::*f)(), T* o)
     {
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ public:
     void unpause();
     void reset();
     bool playing(bool = true) const;
-    void update();
+    void update(float timestamp);
 
 };
 
diff --git a/src/Audio.cpp b/src/Audio.cpp
index 884d1a7..209987e 100644
--- a/src/Audio.cpp
+++ b/src/Audio.cpp
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@ bool SoundEffect::playing(bool include_delay) const
     return false;
 }
 
-void SoundEffect::update()
+void SoundEffect::update(float timestamp)
 {
-    play_animation.update();
+    play_animation.update(timestamp);
 }
 
 SoundEffect::~SoundEffect()
@@ -126,10 +126,10 @@ void Audio::load_bgm()
     load_directory(configuration()["audio"]["default-bgm-root"], bgm, this);
 }
 
-void Audio::update()
+void Audio::update(float timestamp)
 {
     for (auto& [name, sound_effect] : sfx)
     {
-        sound_effect.update();
+        sound_effect.update(timestamp);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Audio.hpp b/src/Audio.hpp
index 7409525..75e3787 100644
--- a/src/Audio.hpp
+++ b/src/Audio.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ struct SoundEffect : Node
     void set_loop_count(int);
     void set_loop_forever();
     bool playing(bool = false) const;
-    void update();
+    void update(float timestamp);
     ~SoundEffect();
 
 };
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ struct Audio : Node
     Audio(Node*);
     void load_sfx();
     void load_bgm();
-    void update();
+    void update(float timestamp);
 
     template <typename T>
     void load_directory(const fs::path& root, std::map<std::string, T>& storage, Node* parent = nullptr)
diff --git a/src/Carousel.hpp b/src/Carousel.hpp
index 579cd49..494812c 100644
--- a/src/Carousel.hpp
+++ b/src/Carousel.hpp
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 #include "glm/common.hpp"
 #include "glm/gtx/integer.hpp"
 
-#include "utility.hpp"
-
 namespace sb
 {
 
diff --git a/src/Configuration.cpp b/src/Configuration.cpp
index 3e85900..44c2a32 100644
--- a/src/Configuration.cpp
+++ b/src/Configuration.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ void Configuration::set_defaults()
         {"suppress-any-key-on-mods", true},
         {"system-any-key-ignore-commands", {"fullscreen", "screenshot", "record", "quit"}},
         {"any-key-ignore-commands", nlohmann::json::array()},
-        {"default-unsuppress-delay", 700},
+        {"default-unsuppress-delay", 0.7},
         {"ignore-repeat-keypress", true}
     };
     config["display"] = {
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ void Configuration::set_defaults()
         {"screenshot-extension", ".png"},
         {"screenshot-zfill", 5},
         {"screenshot-directory", "."},
-        {"gif-frame-length", 100},
+        {"gif-frame-length", 0.1},
         {"video-directory", "."},
         {"write-mp4", false},
-        {"max-stash-length", 5000},
+        {"max-stash-length", 5.0},
         {"max-in-game-stashes", 3},
         {"max-video-stashes", 40},
         {"max-video-memory", 1000},
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void Configuration::set_defaults()
     };
     config["configuration"] = {
         {"auto-refresh", false},
-        {"auto-refresh-interval", 1000}
+        {"auto-refresh-interval", 1.0}
     };
 }
 
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ void Configuration::merge(const fs::path& path)
             sb::Log::log(message, sb::Log::WARN);
         }
 #ifndef __ANDROID__
+        config_file_modification_time = fs::last_write_time(path);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -208,9 +209,9 @@ void Configuration::refresh()
     }
 }
 
-void Configuration::update()
+void Configuration::update(float timestamp)
 {
-    auto_refresher.update();
+    auto_refresher.update(timestamp);
 }
 
 std::ostream& std::operator<<(std::ostream& out, const Configuration& configuration)
diff --git a/src/Configuration.hpp b/src/Configuration.hpp
index db17654..9cc6e67 100644
--- a/src/Configuration.hpp
+++ b/src/Configuration.hpp
@@ -102,10 +102,10 @@ public:
 
     /*!
      * Enable auto refresh. Auto refresh watches the file at the given path for changes and loads them automatically every interval given
-     * in milliseconds.
+     * in seconds.
      *
      * @param file_to_refresh   path to a configuration JSON
-     * @param interval          amount of milliseconds between each refresh
+     * @param interval          amount of seconds between each refresh
      */
     void enable_auto_refresh(const fs::path& file_to_refresh, float interval);
 
@@ -120,9 +120,11 @@ public:
     void refresh();
 
     /*!
-     * Update the auto refresher.
+     * Update the auto refresher with the given timestamp, which should be the timestamp passed to Game::update.
+     *
+     * @param timestamp   seconds elapsed since the program started
      */
-    void update();
+    void update(float timestamp);
 
 };
 
diff --git a/src/Game.cpp b/src/Game.cpp
index 7a1d19f..445df7b 100644
--- a/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/src/Game.cpp
@@ -565,26 +565,27 @@ void Game::run()
 #endif
 }
 
-void Game::frame(float ticks)
+void Game::frame(float timestamp)
 {
-    if (ticks - last_frame_timestamp + frame_time_overflow >= frame_length)
+    if (timestamp - last_frame_timestamp + frame_time_overflow >= frame_length)
     {
-        last_frame_length = ticks - last_frame_timestamp;
+        last_frame_length = timestamp - last_frame_timestamp;
         if (frame_length_history.size() == 5000)
         {
             frame_length_history.pop_back();
         }
         frame_length_history.insert(frame_length_history.begin(), last_frame_length);
         frame_time_overflow = last_frame_length + frame_time_overflow - frame_length;
-        last_frame_timestamp = ticks;
+        last_frame_timestamp = timestamp;
         if (last_frame_length < 1000)
         {
-            recorder.update();
+            float timestamp_seconds = timestamp / 1000.0f;
+            recorder.update(timestamp_seconds);
             _delegate.dispatch();
-            audio.update();
-            input.unsuppress_animation.update();
-            update();
-            _configuration.update();
+            audio.update(timestamp_seconds);
+            input.unsuppress_animation.update(timestamp_seconds);
+            update(timestamp_seconds);
+            _configuration.update(timestamp_seconds);
             if (!is_gl_context)
             {
                 SDL_SetRenderTarget(renderer, nullptr);
@@ -597,10 +598,10 @@ void Game::frame(float ticks)
         //     frame_time_overflow = 0;
         // }
         frame_count_this_second++;
-        if (ticks - last_frame_count_timestamp >= 1000)
+        if (timestamp - last_frame_count_timestamp >= 1000)
         {
             current_frames_per_second = frame_count_this_second;
-            last_frame_count_timestamp = ticks;
+            last_frame_count_timestamp = timestamp;
             frame_count_this_second = 0;
             std::ostringstream message;
             message << "Counted " << current_frames_per_second << " frames last second";
diff --git a/src/Game.hpp b/src/Game.hpp
index 62442e4..88ef77c 100644
--- a/src/Game.hpp
+++ b/src/Game.hpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public:
     void run();
     void frame(float);
     void flag_to_end();
-    virtual void update() {};
+    virtual void update(float timestamp) {};
     void set_framerate(int);
     float get_frame_length() const;
     void handle_quit_event(SDL_Event&);
@@ -165,9 +165,9 @@ public:
      * @return         weighted value
      */
     template<typename T>
-    T weight(T amount)
+    T weight(T amount) const
     {
-        return (last_frame_length / (1000.0 / 60)) * amount;
+        return (last_frame_length / 1000.0f) * amount;
     }
 
 };
diff --git a/src/Node.cpp b/src/Node.cpp
index 808389f..9d4550b 100644
--- a/src/Node.cpp
+++ b/src/Node.cpp
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ void Node::suppress_input()
     get_root()->get_input().suppress();
 }
 
-void Node::suppress_input_temporarily(int length)
+void Node::suppress_input_temporarily(float length)
 {
     suppress_input();
-    if (length == 0)
+    if (length == 0.0f)
     {
         length = configuration()["input"]["default-unsuppress-delay"];
     }
diff --git a/src/Node.hpp b/src/Node.hpp
index f6a8cf4..2014f83 100644
--- a/src/Node.hpp
+++ b/src/Node.hpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public:
     const Game* get_root() const;
     Box window_box(bool = false);
     void suppress_input();
-    void suppress_input_temporarily(int = 0);
+    void suppress_input_temporarily(float length = 0.0f);
     void unsuppress_input();
     const std::string get_branch_as_string() const;
     virtual std::string class_name() const { return "Node"; };
diff --git a/src/Recorder.cpp b/src/Recorder.cpp
index 3a9f248..a9bfd06 100644
--- a/src/Recorder.cpp
+++ b/src/Recorder.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Recorder::Recorder(Node* parent) : Node(parent)
  * been configured by the user. */
 float Recorder::frame_length()
 {
-    return configuration()["recording"].value("video-frame-length", get_root()->get_frame_length());
+    return configuration()["recording"].value("video-frame-length", get_root()->get_frame_length() / 1000.0f);
 }
 
 /* Handle commands for screenshot, record video and save video */
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ void Recorder::write_stash_frames(Stash* stash)
             if (ii == stash->frame_offset)
             {
                 GifBegin(&gif_writer, gif_path.string().c_str(), frame->w,
-                         frame->h, gif_frame_length / 10);
+                         frame->h, gif_frame_length * 100);
             }
             else
             {
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ void Recorder::write_stash_frames(Stash* stash)
             SDL_Surface* converted = SDL_ConvertSurfaceFormat(
                 frame, SDL_PIXELFORMAT_ABGR8888, 0);
             GifWriteFrame(&gif_writer, (const uint8_t*) converted->pixels,
-                          frame->w, frame->h, gif_frame_length / 10);
+                          frame->w, frame->h, gif_frame_length * 100);
         }
         elapsed += frame_length();
         delete[] stash->pixel_buffers.front();
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ void Recorder::write_mp4()
     std::string pixel_format = configuration()["recording"]["mp4-pixel-format"].get<std::string>();
     fs::path images_match = current_video_directory / "%05d.png";
     mp4_command << "ffmpeg -f s16le -ac 2 -ar 22050 -i " << current_audio_path.string() <<
-        " -f image2 -framerate " << (1000 / frame_length()) <<
+        " -f image2 -framerate " << (1.0f / frame_length()) <<
         " -i " << images_match.string() << " -s " << size.x << "x" << size.y <<
         " -c:v libx264 -crf 17 -pix_fmt " << pixel_format << " " <<
         current_video_directory.string() << ".mp4";
@@ -357,14 +357,14 @@ void Recorder::write_audio(Uint8* stream, int len)
     audio_file.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(stream), len);
 }
 
-void Recorder::update()
+void Recorder::update(float timestamp)
 {
     if (is_recording and get_memory_size() > configuration()["recording"]["max-video-memory"])
     {
         end_recording();
     }
     animation.set_frame_length(frame_length());
-    animation.update();
+    animation.update(timestamp);
 }
 
 void Recorder::process_audio(void* context, Uint8* stream, int len)
diff --git a/src/Recorder.hpp b/src/Recorder.hpp
index b42a63f..9c55931 100644
--- a/src/Recorder.hpp
+++ b/src/Recorder.hpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public:
     void finish_writing_video();
     void write_mp4();
     void write_audio(Uint8*, int);
-    void update();
+    void update(float timestamp);
     virtual std::string class_name() const { return "Recorder"; }
 
 };
diff --git a/src/Segment.hpp b/src/Segment.hpp
index 7bfc51e..ab1f785 100644
--- a/src/Segment.hpp
+++ b/src/Segment.hpp
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ public:
     std::vector<Segment> subsegments(int) const;
     inline bool operator<(const Segment& segment) const { return operator<(segment.length()); }
 
-    /*
-      std::cout << (a < b) << (a > b) << (b < c) << (b <= c) << (c > b) << (c >= b) << (d < 1) << (d < 2) <<
-        (d >= a) << (d > c) << std::endl;
-
-      should print 0101010101
-    */
-
     template<typename N>
     inline bool operator<(const N& other) const { return length() < other; }
 
@@ -76,3 +69,11 @@ namespace std
 {
     std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream&, const Segment&);
 }
+
+/* Add Segment class to the sb namespace. This should be the default location, but Segment is left in the global namespace
+ * for backward compatibility.
+ */
+namespace sb
+{
+    using ::Segment;
+}
diff --git a/src/Selection.hpp b/src/Selection.hpp
index ea56367..bc99d5d 100644
--- a/src/Selection.hpp
+++ b/src/Selection.hpp
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 #include "glm/common.hpp"
 #include "glm/gtx/integer.hpp"
 
-#include "utility.hpp"
-
 namespace sb
 {
 
diff --git a/src/Sprite.cpp b/src/Sprite.cpp
index daf7690..c4cbcdd 100644
--- a/src/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/src/Sprite.cpp
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ void Sprite::set_draw_children_on_frame(bool on_frame)
     draw_children_on_frame = on_frame;
 }
 
-void Sprite::update(const std::vector<Box>& subsections)
+void Sprite::update(float timestamp, const std::vector<Box>& subsections)
 {
     if (is_active())
     {
@@ -838,10 +838,10 @@ void Sprite::update(const std::vector<Box>& subsections)
         {
             move_weighted(step);
         }
-        frame_animation.update();
-        blink_animation.update();
-        wipe_animation.update();
-        toggle_hidden_animation.update();
+        frame_animation.update(timestamp);
+        blink_animation.update(timestamp);
+        wipe_animation.update(timestamp);
+        toggle_hidden_animation.update(timestamp);
         SDL_Texture* texture = get_current_frame();
         if (is_loaded() && !is_hidden() && get_current_frameset().get_frame_count())
         {
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ void Sprite::update(const std::vector<Box>& subsections)
                 child_relative_position = child.sprite.get_nw();
                 child.sprite.move(get_nw());
             }
-            child.sprite.update();
+            child.sprite.update(timestamp);
             if (!draw_children_on_frame)
             {
                 child.sprite.set_nw(child_relative_position);
@@ -901,9 +901,9 @@ void Sprite::update(const std::vector<Box>& subsections)
     }
 }
 
-void Sprite::update()
+void Sprite::update(float timestamp)
 {
-    update({});
+    update(timestamp, {});
 }
 
 void Sprite::render_subsection(SDL_Renderer* renderer, SDL_Texture* texture, const Box& subsection, const Box& box)
diff --git a/src/Sprite.hpp b/src/Sprite.hpp
index b761d3f..e82e86b 100644
--- a/src/Sprite.hpp
+++ b/src/Sprite.hpp
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ public:
     bool has_child(std::string) const;
     void remove_child(std::string);
     void set_draw_children_on_frame(bool);
-    virtual void update(const std::vector<Box>&);
-    virtual void update();
+    virtual void update(float timestamp, const std::vector<Box>&);
+    virtual void update(float timestamp);
     void render_subsection(SDL_Renderer*, SDL_Texture*, const Box&, const Box&);
     void set_to_leave_memory_allocated();
     void set_to_deallocate_memory();
diff --git a/src/Switch.hpp b/src/Switch.hpp
index c251673..e6b900d 100644
--- a/src/Switch.hpp
+++ b/src/Switch.hpp
@@ -84,10 +84,8 @@ namespace sb
     private:
 
         using Reaction = std::function<return_type(bool, arguments...)>;
-        inline static const bool STATE_OFF = false;
-        inline static const bool STATE_ON = true;
 
-        bool state = STATE_OFF;
+        bool state = false;
         Reaction reaction;
 
     public:
@@ -102,6 +100,12 @@ namespace sb
 
         Switch(bool state, Reaction reaction = Reaction()) : state(state), reaction(reaction) {}
 
+        /*!
+         * Toggle state, triggering the reaction function.
+         *
+         * @param args   arbitrary list of arguments that are expected by the reaction function
+         * @return       return the return value of the reaction function
+         */
         return_type flip(arguments... args)
         {
             state = !state;
@@ -121,13 +125,14 @@ namespace sb
         /*!
          * @return   when called as a boolean, return state
          */
-        operator bool()
+        operator bool() const
         {
-            return on();
+            return state;
         }
 
         /*!
-         * Assign the switch object's state using the assignment operator with a boolean value.
+         * Assign the switch object's state using the assignment operator with a boolean value, without triggering the reaction function.
+         * To trigger the reaction function, use `Switch::flip` instead.
          *
          * @param state   state the switch will be set to
          */
@@ -137,14 +142,6 @@ namespace sb
             return *this;
         }
 
-        /*!
-         * @return   true if state is Switch::STATE_ON, false otherwise
-         */
-        bool on()
-        {
-            return state;
-        }
-
         operator std::string() const
         {
             return state ? "true" : "false";
diff --git a/src/Timer.cpp b/src/Timer.cpp
index 88fd62c..291b6f7 100644
--- a/src/Timer.cpp
+++ b/src/Timer.cpp
@@ -1,77 +1,55 @@
 #include "Timer.hpp"
 
-/* Initialize a Timer object for keeping a general time count in milliseconds or seconds which can be paused
- * arbitrarily. The time initializes to zero. By default, the timer begins timing at initialization (this
- * may change in the future). The ticks and previous_ticks parameters are initially synchronized with the SDL
- * ticks function, which returns the number of milliseconds since the program began, and the SDL ticks function
- * is used to keep the time updated. */
-sb::Timer::Timer()
-{
-    ticks = SDL_GetTicks();
-    ticks_previous = ticks;
-}
-
-/* Check whether Timer is keeping time or not */
-bool sb::Timer::state()
+sb::Timer::operator bool() const
 {
     return timing;
 }
 
-/* Toggle timing on/off */
 void sb::Timer::toggle()
 {
-    toggle(!state());
+    toggle(!*this);
 }
 
-/* Set state explicitly to sb::Timer::ON (true) or sb::Timer::OFF (false) */
 void sb::Timer::toggle(bool state)
 {
     timing = state;
 }
 
-/* Reset time elapsed to zero */
+void sb::Timer::on()
+{
+    toggle(ON);
+}
+
+void sb::Timer::off()
+{
+    toggle(OFF);
+}
+
 void sb::Timer::reset()
 {
-    ticks_elapsed = 0;
-    ticks = SDL_GetTicks();
-    ticks_previous = ticks;
-    frame_duration = 0;
+    _elapsed = 0;
 }
 
-/* Return milliseconds elapsed on timer */
-float sb::Timer::ms_elapsed()
+float sb::Timer::elapsed() const
 {
-    return ticks_elapsed;
+    return _elapsed;
 }
 
-/* Return seconds elapsed on timer */
-float sb::Timer::seconds_elapsed()
-{
-    return ms_elapsed() / 1000.0f;
-}
-
-/* Return the length of the previous frame in milliseconds (the time between the last two calls to
- * the timer update function) */
-float sb::Timer::ms_last_frame()
+float sb::Timer::frame() const
 {
     return frame_duration;
 }
 
-/* Return the length of the previous frame in seconds (the time between the last two calls to the
- * timer update function) */
-float sb::Timer::seconds_last_frame()
+void sb::Timer::update(float timestamp)
 {
-    return ms_last_frame() / 1000.0f;
-}
-
-/* Add time to the timer by measuring the time between this call and the previous call to update */
-void sb::Timer::update()
-{
-    ticks = SDL_GetTicks();
-    frame_duration = ticks - ticks_previous;
-    if (state())
+    if (previous_is_recorded)
     {
-        ticks_elapsed += frame_duration;
+        frame_duration = timestamp - timestamp_previous;
+        if (*this)
+        {
+            _elapsed += frame();
+        }
     }
-    ticks_previous = ticks;
+    timestamp_previous = timestamp;
+    previous_is_recorded = true;
 }
diff --git a/src/Timer.hpp b/src/Timer.hpp
index 2fd9e9a..7be3031 100644
--- a/src/Timer.hpp
+++ b/src/Timer.hpp
@@ -10,17 +10,20 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "SDL.h"
-
 namespace sb
 {
+    /*!
+     * Timer in seconds which can be paused arbitrarily.
+     *
+     * It must be updated every frame with the timestamp passed to Game::update, regardless of whether it is actively timing or not.
+     */
     class Timer
     {
 
     private:
 
-        bool timing = Timer::ON;
-        int ticks = 0, ticks_previous = 0, frame_duration = 0, ticks_elapsed = 0;
+        bool timing = false, previous_is_recorded = false;
+        float timestamp = 0.0f, timestamp_previous = 0.0f, frame_duration = 0.0f, _elapsed = 0.0f;
 
     public:
 
@@ -30,16 +33,58 @@ namespace sb
             ON
         };
 
-        Timer();
-        bool state();
+        /*!
+         * @return   boolean indicating whether timer object is keeping time or not
+         */
+        operator bool() const;
+
+        /*!
+         * Toggle timing on/off
+         */
         void toggle();
-        void toggle(bool);
+
+        /*!
+         * @param state    set timing state explictly by passing a boolean
+         */
+        void toggle(bool state);
+
+        /*!
+         * Start timing.
+         */
+        void on();
+
+        /*!
+         * Stop timing.
+         */
+        void off();
+
+        /*!
+         * Reset time elapsed to zero.
+         */
         void reset();
-        float ms_elapsed();
-        float seconds_elapsed();
-        float ms_last_frame();
-        float seconds_last_frame();
-        void update();
+
+        /*!
+         * @return   seconds elapsed on timer
+         */
+        float elapsed() const;
+
+
+        /*!
+         * @return   length of the previous frame in seconds
+         */
+        float frame() const;
+
+        /*!
+         * Update the timer's elapsed time, using the amount of seconds elapsed in the program at the start of the frame to keep track.
+         *
+         * The timer should be updated every frame to keep track of the timestamp, regardless of whether it is currently timing or not.
+         * 
+         * The timestamp should be forwarded from the value passed to Game::update, so that it is consistently the timestamp at the
+         * beginning of the frame.
+         * 
+         * @param timestamp   seconds elapsed since the start of the program
+         */
+        void update(float timestamp);
 
         /*!
          * Applies delta timing to a value: returns the value as weighted by the amount of time passed since the
@@ -50,9 +95,9 @@ namespace sb
          * @return         weighted value
          */
         template<typename Type>
-        Type weigh(Type amount)
+        Type delta(Type amount) const
         {
-            return seconds_last_frame() * amount;
+            return frame() * amount;
         }
 
     };