Workometer counts the number of keys you press and how fast you press them. The small hand on the dial shows the current "Keys per Minute" KPM rate, based on the last 10 seconds. The big hand shows the distance you traveled with the mouse in one time interval (0.5 sec). The counter displays the number of keys pressed.
An overall statistic of the average KPM, the total number of keys pressed and your
total work and idle time is displayed in a tool tip when you hover over the gauge.
To reset the statistics and the counter double click on the gauge.
The counter "mouse switches" is the number of switches you make between the keyboard and the mouse. This number should be as low as possible to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury which often occurs, because of the frequent movement of the hand from the keyboard to the mouse and back.
Workometer uses a global keyboard hook to count the number of keys pressed, even when you are in other applications. Windows Vista only allows hooks on applications running with the same or lower privilege than the calling application. It’s a good thing really, but means Workmeter will not monitor applications running in administrator mode, because gadgets usually run in normal "user access" mode. So: it’s not a bug it’s a feature.
Have fun using it!
MSB Software Engineering, 22 May 2007