Forums: Projects Theory and Miscellanea:

So,

I have been asked to create an app that will allow people in our office to fill out leave forms online.

This is obviously very easy- in a browser.

However, one of the things requested for me to investigate is to see if it would be possible create an app to report back to the server when a specific user's machine is not used for a day ( ie, they have taken leave, either with or without permission!)

Also our office is a mixed group of designers on Macs, developers and marketing on PC, so it would have to be cross platform.

So. Given that I have MDM Zinc, and a small amount of knowledge of Adobe AIR, and a fairly decent concept of AS1 and 2... what do you suggest? (of course AIR requires AS3 )

Can AIR get the logged in user name in both Mac and PC? Or, I suppose I could just set it up that you have to login once and it saves the details.

I ideally dont want to have to build two versions, as MDM would probably force me too.

Anyway, justrambling. let me know if you have any thoughts...

that sounds like spyware to me?



I have no idea how you'd build it, but I do know you won't be very popular amongst the staff when it's done!

Doesn't your place have team leaders or some other management that would be aware just by looking at the empty desks when team members don't show up?

with any larger organisation I have worked in all machines need to be logged off to run nightly reports. For those ppl who are too lazy to log off/shutdown when they finish for the day the system or system admins shut them down.
I have also worked in organisations where inactivity of certain apps over a preset period causes them to be disconnected/shutdown either automatically or manually or a combo of both. This type of situation occurs when there are limited connections/licenced users so if someone is just sitting on an open app not using it then it's stopping someone else who needs to use it. Mainly this is a result of the company being too tight to buy more licences or to run a larger server.
Currently we have an app called Vision Manager which is a list of all staff, their extention numbers, and their status i.e. in a meeting, on a break, do not disturb, etc. This has to be manually set though and if you're like me will often unintentionally forget to set it.
If you're sick for the day reception is notified when you ring in and they set it for you.
While this isn't really the answer you're looking for it might give you a few idea's.
It sounds like you're looking for something more automated or as DBM suggested - spyware although I'm sure there is an option to detect inactivity over a set time which will then automatically shutdown a system.

that sounds like spyware to me?

I guess it does, actually. But then when you join a coprporate giant they spy on almost everything you do.

Anyway, I'll discuss that unsavoury aspect with the HR dept ( who are the ones pushing for it) and see what they think.

The alternative, would be to have a system where they are penalised unless they report/punch in.

Originally posted by: scudsucker

that sounds like spyware to me?

I guess it does, actually. But then when you join a coprporate giant they spy on almost everything you do.

yeah I mentioned it because if you can figure out the techniques used to make spyware - then you could utilize that to make your gadget.

Originally posted by: scudsucker
The alternative, would be to have a system where they are penalised unless they report/punch in.

can you not have everyone put a zinc app in thier startup, it would run automatically when starting send a message over the intranet that it had run and then would close itself, worth noting that the mdm prog that runs in the background is quite heavy you definity dont want it running all the time.