Keyboard macros
You are encouraged to solve this task according to the task description, using any language you may know.
Link user defined methods to user defined keys.
AutoHotkey
<lang AutoHotkey> loop, 200 { TrayTip, counting, %A_Index% press alt-p to pause sleep, 1000 }
!p:: pauseMe() return
!r:: resume() return
pauseMe() { Msgbox, pausing`, press alt-r to resume pause } resume() { TrayTip, resume, resuming, 2 pause, off } </lang> See ahk-viper-mode for a context sensitive vi key bindings example.
Tcl
<lang tcl>package require Tk pack [label .l -text "C-x C-s to save, C-x C-c to quit"] focus . bind . <Control-x><Control-s> {tk_messageBox -message "would save here"} bind . <Control-x><Control-c> {exit}</lang>