Tracking time spent on the computer idea

[varpath]

Hi all,

I have this idea of a time tracking tool on the PC idea which I have been brainstorming/toying for a while. (I don't think such a program currently exist, but if it does, please correct me)

The idea is you run the program and it would constantly keep track of what program you are actively working on and upload to a website.

You then log in into the website and the website would show you various charts, showing you what percentage of time you spend on entertainment(games/movies), browsing/chatting and work.

I would imagine that this program would be a good way for you to keep tabs on what EXACTLY you are doing. And a nice tool for you to reclaim otherwise unnoticed time doing activities that are slightly less than productive.

Would you find such a tool useful? Would you recommend it to a friend? Discussion please!

[Amandaaa]

hmmmmm, that's interesting. I know some people who could definitely use something like that.

I don't think that I need it myself, but I would definitely recommend it to people who have a hard time pulling themselves away from the computer....

(Sometimes the internet can be more harmful than helpful... especially if you find yourself using it to procrastinate!)



It's an interesting idea though... I think you should go for it!

(hurry up and do it now- before someone else does!!! )

[Gabriel]

Well, I doubt there is a tool which could track what you actually do, but it would be possible to make a program that would track what programs are running at a specific time. My monitor stores info about working hours and standby time.
It shocked me when i realized how much time I've spent in front of it.

[Brutha]

At the moment in don't know exactly how the website fits into the picture.

On the other hand I can imaging using a software like that is it's done right (not using to much resources of the computer etc.).

Well, I doubt there is a tool which could track what you actually do, but it would be possible to make a program that would track what programs are running at a specific time.

I would guess that you can see what program has focus at a time and log that number, maybe you can even somehow log the title (when I visit this site the title windows of my browser contains "Personal Development for Smart People".

[Keith]

There's time logging software but I'm not sure there's anything quite like what you describe.

The Technology & Technical Skills forum is probably better positioned to answer that part of your post.

[wolfgang]

WorkTime - versatile project tracker surveys the time you spent working with your PC.

[varpath]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback

I was thinking more of like a program where you just run it passively, and the program would collect data on your activity and categories your activity(whether be it for gaming/working/browsing/watching movie/idling, etc).

And then it would generate a report online, where you can monitor how you have been spending your time.


The reason why I did not post this question in the techie forum is because this is more of a general question geared towards people who are interested in better managing their time, since they have feedback from this program.

In any case, at this point of time, I would not have time to develop such a program, but if this inspires anyone to build a similar(or better) time management tool, then all the better

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by varpath

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback

I was thinking more of like a program where you just run it passively, and the program would collect data on your activity and categories your activity(whether be it for gaming/working/browsing/watching movie/idling, etc).

And then it would generate a report online, where you can monitor how you have been spending your time.


The reason why I did not post this question in the techie forum is because this is more of a general question geared towards people who are interested in better managing their time, since they have feedback from this program.

In any case, at this point of time, I would not have time to develop such a program, but if this inspires anyone to build a similar(or better) time management tool, then all the better

Thos software does what you are asking about.
You can see how often and how much time each window with it's title bar name is in focus. I put that link in so you can check it out. Seems like you didn't.

WorkTime - versatile project tracker surveys the time you spent working with your PC.

WorkTime is a versatile and easy to use software that tracks time spent working with the PC.
WorkTime tracks projects you work on, applications you use, documents you work with, web-sites you visit and time spent for every of these activities.

Report Applications/Documents Usage
Applications/Documents Usage report displays applications and documents total time usage.

Use Example: Report Applications/Documents Usage can be used to identify how often users run Internet Explorer and what web-sites they visit.

See screenshot


Print reports / Export reports
After report is generated, you can open the print preview. From the print preview report can be printed or exported to PDF, HTML, Excel, RTF, BMP, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, Text, CSV or sent via email.

[varpath]

Thanks for the clarification, wolfgang. I haven't yet tried the program(cos I limit the time I'm on the computer to only 1h a day) and I somehow got the wrong impression that worktime is a program where you have to type in what task you are doing and trigger a start/stop button.

Well, in any case, the thread should be closed, or something. Problem solved