Monitoring Modes

Three focus modes to match how you learn best.

OnlookAI offers three monitoring modes. Each session uses one mode, and you can change the default in Settings or the mode picker on the home screen before starting.

Face Guard

Best for focused solo study with a webcam.

Monitors only webcam face presence. No tab switching, window focus, or idle detection. The attention score is driven exclusively by whether your face is visible.

• Camera required: Yes
• Attention bar: shown, but hides window/tab signals
• Interventions: fire when face is absent long enough to drop score below threshold

Use this when you want minimal distraction tracking — just “are you there?”

Full Attention (default)

Best for high-stakes lecture review or exam prep.

Combines face detection with all behavioral signals: tab visibility, window focus, and idle timeout. This is the richest signal set and the most sensitive mode.

Signal	Effect
Face absent	−25
Tab hidden / window blur / idle	−20 each
Face present	+10
Tab visible / window focus / activity	+10 each

• Camera required: Yes
• Attention bar: fully visible
• Interventions: fire when rolling 10-event score drops below threshold (default: 40)

Timed Q&A

Best for passive video watching, no camera needed.

No attention scoring. No face detection. Instead, the video pauses at a fixed interval and an AI comprehension question fires. You answer, the video resumes.

• Camera required: No
• Attention bar: hidden
• Interventions: scheduled timer (every 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 minutes — your choice)

The comprehension questions are generated by OpenAI using the video title and current timestamp. If no API key is configured, fallback questions are used.

Choosing an interval (Timed Q&A)

When Timed Q&A is selected, a row of interval buttons appears on the home screen and in Settings:

Interval	Good for
5 min	Dense technical content, short clips
10 min	Standard lectures (default)
15 min	Longer recordings, lighter review
20 min	Background listening with occasional checks

Switching modes mid-session

Mode is set at session start. To switch, exit the current session (X button), change the mode on the home screen, and start a new session.

Permissions summary

Mode	Camera	Microphone
Face Guard	Required	Not used
Full Attention	Required	Not used
Timed Q&A	Not required	Not used

Camera permission is requested before the session starts. If denied, an inline error with a Retry button appears. You can also switch to Timed Q&A to skip the camera entirely.