OLC
Fri Apr 23 00:09:42 CDT 2004
Alex-
You sound like you are going to have a good time doing this. My first
recommendation would be to explore the extensive .NET namespace.
Particularly System.Diagnostics, and the Process library. From there you
need to figure out how to determine which programs have focus versuses which
don't. I would create a custom struct of some time to make counters of
various types to determine what is really being used versues just what
isopened. You could then use SQL CE (which may be overkill) or just export
an XML type file via active sync and do your processing somewhere else.
Here's an id of a struct that I would (possibly) use. just my 2 cents: note
that i'm not using any specific language, just some rough pseudeo code. i
may be missing some important stuff, but i'm a little tired rigfht now.
stuUsedApplication
{
int PID //the pid of the application
smalldatetime FirstUse
smalldatetime LastUsed
int TimesUsed (this is a counter)
int IdleTime
int TimeHasFocused
int TimeNotFocused
int TaskID (this could be associated to a different data table of Tasks
etc)
}
you would then want to do some calculations like timefocused vs time not
focused, etc to determine what is being used. if you have a Task table, you
can associate these with tasks to determine what is fluff (i.e. shit that
the user is just puddin around with verses what he or she is using for
productive purposes).
it shouldn't be too hard. Just take a look at the .NET namespacces for
process's and diagnotsics and it should get your knoggin churning for
killler ideas.
as for creating the application itself, there are tons of tutorials on MSDN
and other sources (codeproject, etc) that will spoonfeed you through
creating the application itself and stuff.
if you write anything cool. send me a copy of your application:
newsgroups@NOFKINGSPAMOnelessClick.com (minus the NOFKING spam part)
best of luck to ya
j.d. adams
-jason @ onelessclick
"KS" <ks@blah.com> wrote in message
news:uIJzkayJEHA.2380@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Here's what I would do, but there might be better ways.
>
> Create a timer that keeps on enumerating the windows on a device. From
the
> window handle, you can get the window title and class. Based on the title
> and/or class, you can figure out what application is running. So if a new
> window handle appears on the next timer iteration, you know it's a new
> application that has started. You can then save what time it started. On
> the next timer iteration, look for the same window handle. If it's not
> there, you know they closed it.
>
> You should be able to store the data in a SQL Server CE database and put
> your application in the /Windows/StartUp folder on the PocketPC.
>
> KS
>
>
> "Alex Bick" <alexbick@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:wehhc.11794$2v.3128@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
> > Hi. My name is Alex Bick. I am a high school student who is trying to
> > determine the affects of Pocket PC use on high school academic
> achievement.
> > I am being mentored by Harvard professor Dr. Chris Dede. I plan on
> > submitting my research to the Intel Science Talent Search (formerly the
> > Westinghouse competition).
> >
> > Up to this point my study has only examined grade point average over a 5
> > month period (and found that Pocket PC users increase approximately 12%
> over
> > their peers). I am interested in designing usage tracking software so
that
> I
> > can figure out what programs the students are using; that may provide
> clues
> > to the programs that result in the observed performance improvement.
> >
> > At a minimum, I would like to be able to tell the frequency with which a
> > user accesses a particular program. Ideally, I would like to be able to
> tell
> > how much time a user spends every day using a particular program. To my
> > knowledge no such program exists for Pocket PCs.
> >
> > Could you please advise me how to create such a program? I have
> experience
> > programming in Visual Basic (.Net/Embedded & VB6), and Java. Any
> suggestions
> > are greatly appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >
> > Alex Bick
> >
> > alexbick@hotmail.com
> >
> > Millburn High School, NJ
> >
> >
> >
>
>