I give an idea: about managing work and restricting access to the Internet
Soon two years, blowjob, as I never realized one idea. Others have already come, managed to cool, leave and give way to newer ones, but this one remains. I don’t have enough of such a realized tool, so I decided to describe the idea in public and hope that they will give me a license for the first professional version, and from a second million profits they will put a bottle of good cognac. =)
The idea is simple: I propose to cross the task management system (To-Do List) with the network access restriction system:
By the way, I also give the name to this system: ConcentrateOn (pronounce as concentration).
Concentrate
Now some companies use in their network a constant restriction of access to the list of Internet resources. Such a permanent, inflexible restriction is not applicable for personal use, and in the corporate environment also has disadvantages:
On the other hand, free and constant access to many Internet resources can significantly reduce user productivity.
There was also a solution (with a similar name Concentrate) that allows you to disable access to network resources, but similar tools did not offer a connection to the current list of jobs.
So, the ConcentrateON product is based on a simple idea:
Introduce restrictions on access to Internet resources and some local applications only depending on the priority of current tasks. Those. temporarily enable the "ConcentrateOn" mode, eliminating sources of distraction for the period of priority work.
Access restriction must be managed dynamically and adaptively, which will allow combining high work efficiency and employee loyalty, as the restriction is not permanent and unconditional, but is objectively determined by the solution of tasks and is managed by the employee independently. A clear awareness of tasks and goals, and the ability to manage them, in and of themselves, can be additional motivational factors.
And gaining access to entertainment resources upon completion of tasks, in some conditions, can be an incentive.
Obviously, this is just the basic idea of the product.
Additionally, you can take into account the data of scientific approaches to the organization of human activity, in particular, structure its main work in blocks of 35-45 minutes, organizing breaks (scheduled or at the request of the employee).
For example, when performing a long task, the concentration mode is turned on for 40 minutes, after which a 15-minute free mode can follow, etc. Similar policies should be customizable. (See the description of the Pomodoro technique ) The
functionality of the product must be extensible by connecting plug-ins. For example, relaxing exercises for the eyes, neck, hands or training courses or modules for learning foreign words, etc.
The modular principle will also allow you to create different editions of the product:
The corporate version, in addition to the functionality included in the personal version, should support a number of functions that increase the efficiency of a person’s work in the company:
For marketing purposes, a limited version may be created, distributed free of charge. This can be a personal edition with a life time limit, or a edition without basic extension modules and with a limit on the number of tasks, priority levels, etc. For example, the option with two operating modes ConcentrateOn and Off, switchable depending on the presence of a high priority task.
In terms of the distribution of paid versions of the system, you should focus on two different segments:
The emphasis is on improving personal effectiveness, advertising on breadth channels, the end user is the target audience of advertising, the decision maker. Direct sales.
Emphasis on manageability, control, adequacy of restrictions, increase in overall efficiency, statistics of losses from social networks, etc. Specialized distribution channels. The target audience for advertising is managers, not end users. Advertising through specialized channels, participation in thematic events, forming an affiliate network.
Obviously, the product involves the development and expansion of functionality, the development of access restriction methods, methods of planning and managing such planning, due to integration with other software systems, as well as its own additional services, for example, training modules, activated on a schedule or in the absence of current tasks.
Here is an idea. I would be very happy if such a product appeared. I realized that I myself could not implement it, since it requires good knowledge of the network protocol, and the total amount of work is quite large. It’s probably better to create it in general as an addition to a personal / corporate antivirus / firewall.
If someone is interested, I can tell you the ideas of development a little deeper in a personal conversation.
UPD: The most important thing! Would you buy a version of Pro, with all sorts of twists, say bucks for 7-15?
The idea is simple: I propose to cross the task management system (To-Do List) with the network access restriction system:
- There are no important tasks - you walk around the hub, play blackjack, watch girls.
- There are important tasks - they are not allowed to blackjack and girls, but the habr itself is not limited yet.
- Important tasks are about to expire - they are only allowed into the search engine, msdn and stackoverflow, and messengers are disabled.
By the way, I also give the name to this system: ConcentrateOn (pronounce as concentration).
Concentrate 
n.
Solved problems
- Reduced attention to work
- Context switch
- Procrastination - putting off important things
Existing solutions
Now some companies use in their network a constant restriction of access to the list of Internet resources. Such a permanent, inflexible restriction is not applicable for personal use, and in the corporate environment also has disadvantages:
- strong demotivating effect
- decrease in human performance without modern means of communication
- the inability to restrict Internet access completely and the inefficiency of partial restrictions
- replacing prohibited resources with other entertainment sources
On the other hand, free and constant access to many Internet resources can significantly reduce user productivity.
There was also a solution (with a similar name Concentrate) that allows you to disable access to network resources, but similar tools did not offer a connection to the current list of jobs.
Proposed solution
So, the ConcentrateON product is based on a simple idea:
Introduce restrictions on access to Internet resources and some local applications only depending on the priority of current tasks. Those. temporarily enable the "ConcentrateOn" mode, eliminating sources of distraction for the period of priority work.
Access restriction must be managed dynamically and adaptively, which will allow combining high work efficiency and employee loyalty, as the restriction is not permanent and unconditional, but is objectively determined by the solution of tasks and is managed by the employee independently. A clear awareness of tasks and goals, and the ability to manage them, in and of themselves, can be additional motivational factors.
And gaining access to entertainment resources upon completion of tasks, in some conditions, can be an incentive.
Obviously, this is just the basic idea of the product.
Functionality extensions
Additionally, you can take into account the data of scientific approaches to the organization of human activity, in particular, structure its main work in blocks of 35-45 minutes, organizing breaks (scheduled or at the request of the employee).
For example, when performing a long task, the concentration mode is turned on for 40 minutes, after which a 15-minute free mode can follow, etc. Similar policies should be customizable. (See the description of the Pomodoro technique ) The
functionality of the product must be extensible by connecting plug-ins. For example, relaxing exercises for the eyes, neck, hands or training courses or modules for learning foreign words, etc.
The modular principle will also allow you to create different editions of the product:
Personal Edition (Professional):
- module for planning, description of tasks, sequences and plans
- a module for describing strategic goals and associating tasks with goals, as well as helping to prioritize tasks
- module for reporting on completed tasks, integration with blogs
- integration module with information services, for example, optional publication of tasks on Twitter, setting appropriate statuses in ICQ, Skype, publication of achievements, etc.
- task complexity assessment module
- applied modules - rest of the eyes, memorization of foreign words, etc.
- parental control
- module for calculating the volume of the incoming information stream
Corporate Edition (Enterprise)
The corporate version, in addition to the functionality included in the personal version, should support a number of functions that increase the efficiency of a person’s work in the company:
- goal setting by the line manager
- control of the employee’s employment with work (for example, checking that the employee is not overloaded. There are recommendations not to issue tasks to the employee with a duration of more than 70% of his working time)
- integration with Outlook, Lotus Notes, JIRA, TFS, etc.
- integration with existing corporate planning and accounting systems
- base of typical tasks and their estimates
- centralized management of rule sets and exceptions
Lite version
For marketing purposes, a limited version may be created, distributed free of charge. This can be a personal edition with a life time limit, or a edition without basic extension modules and with a limit on the number of tasks, priority levels, etc. For example, the option with two operating modes ConcentrateOn and Off, switchable depending on the presence of a high priority task.
The target audience
In terms of the distribution of paid versions of the system, you should focus on two different segments:
Individual users (Pro version)
The emphasis is on improving personal effectiveness, advertising on breadth channels, the end user is the target audience of advertising, the decision maker. Direct sales.
Corporate users (Enterprise version)
Emphasis on manageability, control, adequacy of restrictions, increase in overall efficiency, statistics of losses from social networks, etc. Specialized distribution channels. The target audience for advertising is managers, not end users. Advertising through specialized channels, participation in thematic events, forming an affiliate network.
Conclusion
Obviously, the product involves the development and expansion of functionality, the development of access restriction methods, methods of planning and managing such planning, due to integration with other software systems, as well as its own additional services, for example, training modules, activated on a schedule or in the absence of current tasks.
Here is an idea. I would be very happy if such a product appeared. I realized that I myself could not implement it, since it requires good knowledge of the network protocol, and the total amount of work is quite large. It’s probably better to create it in general as an addition to a personal / corporate antivirus / firewall.
If someone is interested, I can tell you the ideas of development a little deeper in a personal conversation.
UPD: The most important thing! Would you buy a version of Pro, with all sorts of twists, say bucks for 7-15?