stretchly
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hovancik
Take into account intensity of computer usage
Thanks for this super useful app! I use it to remind myself to take breaks regularly and prevent RSI symptoms. However, sometimes I am just casually reading something (thus only scrolling) or watching a video, which means a break is less urgent.
So I was wondering if it would be possible to track keyboard and mouse usage? If it is exceptionally intensive, you could start the a break sooner, or make the message more urgent like: "Stretchly has detected that your computer use is exceptionally intensive. Take a break now to reduce the chance of RSI complications.".
Essentially, the more keystrokes are made, and the more the mouse has traveled (and the higher its acceleration is), the sooner you are reminded to take a break. Also you could look at the number of switches between mouse and keyboard, because those are especially bad for RSI I have heard.
Hi @mthaak , thanks for the idea ;] It looks interesting and would be helpful to many users.
Can't and won't promise when I will have time to look into it, but I definitely like it.
I only started testing Stretchly, but I am pretty sure you would find Workrave much better in that regard. It has much less tendency to start breaks when you're already away from the screen.
2023 update: unfortunately I still don't see library that would allow me to see some keyboard/mouse intensity ;/
I don't know how Workrave does this, whether it simply relies on a library or has lots of custom heuristics, but unless Stretchly has evolved since I evaluated it, I am sure looking at its implementation would provide a recipe to better satisfy the reporter's needs, although the changes could be perceived negatively by some users.
Ah, I didn't know that it is open source app :) https://github.com/rcaelers/workrave
Do you know how it is called there? Tried searching intensity https://github.com/rcaelers/workrave/search?q=intensity but no results
Ah, I didn't know that it is open source app :) https://github.com/rcaelers/workrave
Hah! Yet it has been for decades!
Do you know how it is called there? Tried searching intensity https://github.com/rcaelers/workrave/search?q=intensity but no results
Not really, but what I meant wasn't that Workrave offered to enable some "intensity detection" feature. What I meant is that by default, Workrave never triggers breaks while you're already AFK, and it lets you work longer when you're less active. To my knowledge, that behavior is not adjustable.
In practice, this means that Workrave may underestimate how much work you spend on the PC. If I set it to extended breaks every 45 minutes, in reality, in my usage pattern, it won't impose breaks before an hour, on average.
But if you want to see how it works, just check its default activity detection algorithm.
...you could look at the number of switches between mouse and keyboard, because those are especially bad for RSI I have heard.
This is interesting. I would expect switching input methods often to be a healthy thing to do. Any articles?
+1 for this feature
This is something I like to see as well, when I watch a movie, series or a youtube video of some sorts, I don't want Stretchly to pop-up.
