Zeitgeist (Software)

Zeitgeist is a utility that records the activities of a computer user and events on a computer. These activities and events can be, for example, opening a file, visiting a web page or guided conversations with instant messaging programs. This collected information makes Zeitgeist other programs in terms of time course data and statistics available. The utility allows to derive relationships between the recorded objects and to determine usage patterns using computer algorithms such as " Winepi " and " a priori ".

The Zeitgeist software is the primary data source for programs like GNOME Activity Journal and Ubuntu Unity, which develop as a front-end to the zeitgeist just to important administrative and presentation tools of activities in the GNOME desktop environment.

Functions

• Zeitgeist can actually log file access, Internet activities and chat and e- mail conversations.
• With the help of front-ends, the user ( etc. E- mail contacts, web addresses ) use the recorded and evaluated information from Zeitgeist to find files related and other information.
• Zeitgeist gets its data by communicating with other programs (such as web browser, email client, etc. ), but are plugins for these programs requirement.
• Zeitgeist provides a general access of all programs using the DBus API.
• Zeitgeist shows which objects the user most frequently used, not only in general but also with time reference as in " Which files were the most relevant while I was working for me the last 4 months of project X?".
• The use of machine learning algorithms allows zeitgeist the demonstration of usage habits and relationships between the recorded objects.
• About Extensions (English extensions ) the recording of activities outside the office use, such as done by geographic location information.