diff --git a/flax/zoomcontrol.py b/flax/zoomcontrol.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flax/zoomcontrol.py
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+from __future__ import division
+import Tkinter as tk
+from dispatch import dispatcher
+
+class Zoomcontrol(object,tk.Canvas):
+
+    def maxtime():
+        doc = "seconds at the right edge of the bar"
+        def fget(self): return self._maxtime
+        def fset(self, value):
+            self._maxtime = value
+            self.updatewidget()
+        return locals()
+    maxtime = property(**maxtime())
+    
+    def start():
+        def fget(self): return self._start
+        def fset(self,v): self._start = max(0,v)
+        return locals()
+    start = property(**start())
+
+    def end():
+        def fget(self): return self._end
+        def fset(self,v): self._end = min(self.maxtime,v)
+        return locals()
+    end = property(**end())
+        
+
+    def __init__(self,master,**kw):
+        self.maxtime=370
+        self.start=0
+        self.end=20
+        tk.Canvas.__init__(self,master,width=250,height=30,
+                           relief='raised',bd=1,bg='gray60',**kw)
+        self.leftbrack = self.create_line(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,width=5)
+        self.rightbrack = self.create_line(0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,width=5)
+        self.shade = self.create_rectangle(0,0,0,0,fill='gray70',outline=None)
+        self.time = self.create_line(0,0,0,0,fill='red',width=2)
+        self.updatewidget()
+        self.bind("<Configure>",self.updatewidget)
+
+        self.bind("<ButtonPress-1>",lambda ev: setattr(self,'lastx',ev.x))
+        self.tag_bind(self.leftbrack,"<B1-Motion>",
+                      lambda ev: self.adjust('start',ev))
+        self.tag_bind(self.rightbrack,"<B1-Motion>",
+                      lambda ev: self.adjust('end',ev))
+        self.tag_bind(self.shade,"<B1-Motion>",
+                      lambda ev: self.adjust('offset',ev))
+        dispatcher.connect(lambda: (self.start,self.end),"zoom area",weak=0)
+        dispatcher.connect(self.input_time,"input time")
+        dispatcher.connect(lambda maxtime: (setattr(self,'maxtime',maxtime),
+                                            self.updatewidget()),"max time",weak=0)
+        self.created=1
+    def input_time(self,val):
+        t=val
+        x=self.can_for_t(t)
+        self.coords(self.time,x,0,x,self.winfo_height())
+
+    def adjust(self,attr,ev):
+        if not hasattr(self,'lastx'):
+            return
+        new = self.can_for_t(getattr(self,attr)) + (ev.x - self.lastx)
+        self.lastx = ev.x
+        setattr(self,attr,self.t_for_can(new))
+        self.updatewidget()
+        dispatcher.send("zoom changed")
+        
+    def offset():
+        doc = "virtual attr that adjusts start and end together"
+        def fget(self):
+            return self.start
+        def fset(self, value):
+            d = self.end-self.start
+            self.start = value
+            self.end = self.start+d
+        return locals()
+    offset = property(**offset())
+
+    def can_for_t(self,t):
+        return t/self.maxtime*(self.winfo_width()-30)+20
+    def t_for_can(self,x):
+        return (x-20)/(self.winfo_width()-30)*self.maxtime
+
+    def updatewidget(self,*args):
+        """redraw pieces based on start/end"""
+        if not hasattr(self,'created'): return
+        y1,y2=3,self.winfo_height()-3
+        lip = 6
+        scan = self.can_for_t(self.start)
+        ecan = self.can_for_t(self.end)
+        self.coords(self.leftbrack,scan+lip,y1,scan,y1,scan,y2,scan+lip,y2)
+        self.coords(self.rightbrack,ecan-lip,y1,ecan,y1,ecan,y2,ecan-lip,y2)
+        self.coords(self.shade,scan+3,y1+lip,ecan-3,y2-lip)
+        self.delete("tics")
+        lastx=-1000
+        for t in range(0,int(self.maxtime)):
+            x = self.can_for_t(t)
+            if 0<x<self.winfo_width() and x-lastx>30:
+                txt=str(t)
+                if lastx==-1000:
+                    txt=txt+"sec"
+                self.create_line(x,0,x,15,
+                                 tags=('tics',))
+                self.create_text(x,self.winfo_height()-1,anchor='s',
+                                 text=txt,tags=('tics',),font='6x13')
+                lastx = x