You've Got Mail

Curious idea! I've taken great pains to economize time on emails, and can definitely relate to your problem. While I like the idea of measuring time spent reading or writing emails, however, it might be useful to consider other factors (for example, number of unread emails-- a day where you receive 20 emails might affect reading times compared to one where you receive 3). I'd also suggest moving to a more connected data visualization (e.g. a streamgraph: http://bl.ocks.org/mbostock/4060954). Although perhaps harder to see data for a single day, it makes visualizing changes over time much easier (and is a bit more artistic too!)

I like the fact that you've somehow accounted for every possibility of having false data. The way you set up the computer program ensure that you won't have a problem logging your own data in to the app. My main question is what happens after a week has passed? Will the data shift down a day? In that case it would be hard to see your entire history.Will the data disappear and make room for a new week? In that case, you'd have the same problem. I think the most effective way for you to show your data is by having a normal graph with connected plotted points. One line could be orange and one could be blue so you could easily see the distinction. Plus, this way, you could see a lot more of your data than just five days' worth.

Kristen, that's a really good idea! I really only had five days on this example graph to show a baseline, and the actual graph would probably have more days on it, but I like the idea of also having a line graph for more long-term data, and then maybe being able to see more short-term data by zooming in.