Task Working Stats

Overview

Task Working Stats measure how much active working time a user spends on a task.
The system groups user activity into work periods, based on when the user is making edits or changes.

This approach excludes long idle time (breaks, distractions) and focuses on actual productive work.

What is a Work Period?

A work period is a continuous time span during which the user:

  • Is inside the task, and

  • Is actively making changes (events), such as edits or updates.

As long as the user continues making changes without a long pause, all activity belongs to the same work period.

Events

An event is any action that modifies the task, for example:

  • Editing text

  • Changing content

  • Saving updates

Events are used to detect activity and determine whether a work period continues or ends.

Max Period Without Event (Max Inactivity)

Max period without event defines how long a user can stay inactive before a work period is considered finished.

  • If the user is inactive less than this time, the work period continues.

  • If the user is inactive equal to or longer than this time, the work period ends.

  • The next event starts a new work period.

This accounts for natural pauses such as thinking, reading, or short breaks.

How Work Periods Are Calculated

  1. The first event starts a work period.

  2. Each new event extends the current work period.

  3. If inactivity exceeds the max period without event:

    • The current work period ends.

  4. The next event starts a new work period.

Metrics Explanation

  • Work periods count
    Number of separate work periods detected.

  • Average period duration (min)
    Average length of a work period.

  • Total duration (min)
    Sum of all work period durations (active working time only).

  • Duration per chunk (min)
    Average duration of a continuous working session.

  • Duration per video minute
    Average working time required per minute of video/content.

Detailed Work Period Table

Each row represents one work period:

  • Start: Time of the first event

  • End: Time of the last event

  • Duration: Length of the work period

  • Events count: Number of changes made during that period

Effect of Changing Max Inactivity

Smaller Max Inactivity (e.g. 1 minute)

  • Creates more work periods

  • Shorter average duration

  • Breaks sessions more aggressively

  • Useful for analyzing highly focused or rapid tasks

Larger Max Inactivity (e.g. 5–10 minutes)

  • Creates fewer, longer work periods

  • Higher average duration

  • Allows longer pauses without splitting sessions

  • Better for tasks that involve thinking, reviewing, or watching content

Summary

Work periods provide a realistic view of productive time by grouping activity based on edits and allowable inactivity. Adjusting the max inactivity lets you control how strictly sessions are split, depending on the nature of the task.