Paul Wakeford

Activity is the activity sampling equivalant to Timedex's time Study

• It works the same way, and has most of the same features that will ensure accurate sampling data from the workplace to analysis.
• It is a work measurement system running on the Pocket PC, Windows 2002/3 and Mobile platforms.
• The data is open and can be viewed and anotatated in TDX analysis and then exported in one single step to an Excel/Access/123 readable format. There will soon be an option to get all the analysis and statistics into

It's free!

OK - you need a Pocket PC, about a hundred pounds for a reconditioned machine? You couldn't get proper stopwatch for that! Even new, they can come in at less than £200.

So, what is it about?

Take a look at a few of these features in Activity:

Frequently Asked Questions

The Interface

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The high speed you need in modern time study (which Timedex gives you) is less important in sampling but - you still have it:

The interface is much the same but incorporates an operattor field. The area field has the same characterisics as the operator field.

To get to the notes field you have to go into Back Edit .

The bracketed numbers indicate quick access to people of Areas by focussing the field and tapping the number on the key pad. You can also select in these fields by selecting their drop-down controls.

Edit During the Sample

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Pop-up process file

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You have the same difficulties in sampling as in time study (in the early part at least) where you are not sure of the activities - don't forget you are trying to keep track of people and areas as well so it isn't always easy.

As in Timedex you have a pop-up to let you find your activity, select it to put it into the study.

• Tap the Process list icon on the button bar
• Up pops the list (right)
• Choose your element
• Tap "Use Element"
• And it goes straight into the data - no typeding or pecking away at bouncy and sticky keys.

Modern Connectivity

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No serial leads here. USB is the "hard wire" connection - that is modern and OK and, you have to use it to install the programs but; for file transfer, use Bluetooth if you can. It is fast and only needs general proximity to work. If you have a static situation you could use WiFi to connect to your network from any point on the site if your server has a wireless network. The choices are yours, not the hardware supplier's.

Edit before download

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You have finished the sample and you are waiting to get onto the only PC to edit.Get some (or all of it) done on the PPC and avoid the queue.

• Open up the big view (see above)
• Scan through to see if there are any obvious things wrong
• If anything needs to be attended to, tap the observation
• Tap the back edit button
• Do the edit - Press OK

There may be large blocks needing updating (possibly impractical in the Big View. You'll have to do those on the base machine.

Pleasant mixed case output

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Screen and hard copy output in Activity are set in mixed case for descriptions and codes are in upper case. Nice to avoid 1980s MSDOS type views of your data.

Crash resistant

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As with Timedex, there is a level of crash resistance that allows you to lose no more than a couple of minutes at the data collection. At this point in time, because output goes to csv you would need to join the two parts of the sample yourself in Excel. This will change when the Activity Sampling analysis get more complete editing facilities - due over the next couple of months.

Random data addition

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You don't have to enter data in strict order - you can for instance put in the rating before the element number - you are not tied and you won't get any unpleasant messages about something being wrong.

Use Pocket Excel & Word

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The PPC can multitask. So, you can use other programs to enter additional notes, perhaps use Excel to enter quantities of something (pallets, quantities red, white and blue? What about a voice note - quick and easy and can help you to remember something like the observation number when a particular message was heard on a voice pick - for instance. In investigative study work, these facilities are invaluable.

The Study is Visible

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• Above all, the sample in all its parts is visible and accessible during the actual study
• Previous observations do not disappear directly out of view with the next breakpoint
• You can back edit any observation at any time. All you cannot do is change the time and the rating.