ingimp automatically collects usability data, but only after getting your permission to do so. Because all data collected by ingimp is made publicly available on this website, you should be aware of what data are collected and implications for your privacy. Additionally, please make sure to read the consent agreement when you run ingimp for the first time.

Protecting privacy

We have designed ingimp to collect data useful to usability analyses, without intentionally collecting any personal information. For example, ingimp does not record the actual keys pressed, just when they are pressed, along with any modifier keys used (i.e., Shift, Alt, and Control). Furthermore, ingimp does not record command parameters (for example, it doesn't record the text you enter into the text tool) nor does it transmit the actual images on which you work.

We have taken a number of measures to make data collection process transparent. First, you can temporarily disable logging for any individual run of ingimp by checking the "Disable application usage logging for this run" checkbox at start-up. Note that you must do this every time you wish to disable logging.

Check the above box every time you wish to disable logging

Second, ingimp logs its data to human-readable XML files. For example, here are the log snippets corresponding to someone typing "ingimp" into the text tool's text editor:

<LogEntry entry_num="581" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_55"

elapsed_time_usec="1140515625.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"
event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>

</LogEntry>

<LogEntry entry_num="583" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_55"
elapsed_time_usec="1140656250.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"

event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>
</LogEntry>

<LogEntry entry_num="584" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_55"

elapsed_time_usec="1140812500.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"
event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>

</LogEntry>

<LogEntry entry_num="585" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_56"
elapsed_time_usec="1141234375.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"

event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>
</LogEntry>

<LogEntry entry_num="586" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_56"

elapsed_time_usec="1141375000.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"
event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>

</LogEntry>

<LogEntry entry_num="587" event_date="2007_05_03_11_52_56"
elapsed_time_usec="1141531250.000000">
<WindowKeyEvent window_name="GIMP Text Editor" window_role="gimp-text-editor"

event_type="9" modifier_state="0"/>
</LogEntry>

Note that the log shows 6 keyboard events, but none of the actual keys are logged. (Entry number 582, the undo event, is not shown above.) A more complete log file can be found here: sample_log.xml.

Finally, since it is open source, you have the additional peace of mind that you can directly inspect all of the changes we have made to the GIMP within ingimp. For example, check out the patch in Downloads to see exactly how ingimp differs from the stock distribution.

What you should be aware of

At present, there are a few ways that potentially personal information could inadvertently be collected by ingimp:

• If you create your own custom scripts, your script names will be recorded because all command names are recorded. Thus, if you named your script "john_smiths_acme_script", that script name would be recorded whenever you used it
• When you first start ingimp, you have the opportunity to enter "activity tags" (free-form descriptions of how you plan on using the software -- see figure below). These are purely optional. You are free to enter any text in the activity tag field, but should remember that these tags will be available for anyone to see in your log file. Thus, if you enter, "Removing Aunt Edna from John Smith's family photo" in the Activity tags field, this text will be available for anyone to read in the uploaded log files

Any text added to the "Activity tags" field is recorded in the log file

If you have any additional questions about what data is collected, feel free to send us an email at ingimp@cs.uwaterloo.ca.