Academic authorship

Aitor Garcés-Manzanera (University of Murcia) is the creator and lead developer of TypeFlow. Developed for academic research in collaboration with the L2WRITE Group.

TypeFlow: web-based keystroke logging for L2 writing research Pause, revision, and burst analysis in the browser

TypeFlow records keystrokes, pauses, revisions, mouse activity, and focus events in the browser, then exports Excel workbooks and final texts for analysis.

Manual Repository

Local .xlsx export

Optional email submission

PC, laptop, tablet, and Apple products

Physical keyboard required

The writer starts a draft.

She writes a quickclear plan.

revision pause

Then the next sentence flows.

TypeFlow ecosystem

Choose the right tool first

Apps are separated from setup and analysis utilities so researchers can move from collection to processing without guessing.

Data collection apps

Open these to run participant sessions

Apps below support Apple products

Core

TypeFlow Core

Main keystroke logging app for local workbook export and remote submission.

Open Core

App

TypeFlow Multi

Writing research with visual stimuli and prompts.

Open Multi

App

TypeFlow Slides

PowerPoint-style slide composition with TypeFlow keystroke logging for presentation-based writing tasks.

Open Slides

App

TypeFlow Eye

Webcam eye-tracking for linking gaze, pauses, revisions, and writing bursts.

Open Eye v12

Setup, review and analysis utilities

Use these before or after data collection

Setup

Session Builder

Prepare participant-ready settings, labels, task wording, and collection parameters.

Open builder

Tool

Replay Studio

Visual playback of writing sessions for rapid quality control.

Open replay

Pro

Workbook Merger

Combine multiple workbooks into a single analysis-ready dataset.

Open merger

Beta

Linguistic Analyzer

Word-level pause statistics and CSV export for downstream analysis.

Open analyzer

Test

Typing Test

Baseline typing assessment before full data collection.

Open test

Util

IDFX Converter

Inputlog compatibility converter for legacy workflows.

Open converter

Roadmap and specialized modes

Coming soon

TypeFlow Desktop App

Downloadable Windows app for offline sessions and classrooms with limited connectivity.

Windows Offline

Think aloud

TypeFlow Speak

Think-aloud mode with audio capture and transcription support.

Open Speak

Later

API Workbench

Developer playground for integrating the TypeFlow logging engine.

Research studies

Event streams that support statistical modeling and cross-group comparisons.

Teaching contexts

Use pauses, bursts, and revisions for classroom feedback and reflection.

Pilot diagnostics

Quickly detect focus losses and export issues before large collection windows.

Research framework for keystroke logging studies

Method first, tooling second

TypeFlow is designed for process-oriented writing research. The platform records event traces that make temporal analysis possible without requiring local software installation.

What keystroke logging adds

Unlike static text snapshots, keystroke logging captures writing in motion: onset, pause distribution, revision timing, and focus transitions. This provides trace-level evidence for process models and intervention studies.

Temporal precision

Timestamped events support pause and burst analysis.

Revision visibility

Insertion/deletion behavior becomes analytically explicit.

Scalable outputs

Workbook structure supports cohort aggregation.

Workbook outputs

Event stream Keystrokes, pauses, mouse actions, and focus events with timing data.

Derived measures Bursts, revisions, diagnostics, and aggregate indicators.

Final text Participant output stored alongside process traces.

Session metadata Device, timing context, and app variant for reproducibility.

Scope note: in standard apps, TypeFlow does not record full-screen video. Audio is only captured in TypeFlow Speak sessions.

Reporting checklist

Task constraints and writing prompts.
Device and browser conditions.
Pause thresholds and derived metrics.
Data cleaning and exclusion criteria.

Ethics reminders

Inform participants what is logged (keystrokes and interaction traces), what is not logged, and where outputs are stored.

Quick quality checks

Use Replay Studio and Workbook Merger to detect missing focus segments, unusual bursts, and export anomalies.

Studies and papers

This area will host publications, datasets, and reference materials produced with TypeFlow.

Training workflow for writing-process data collection

Run consistent sessions from day one

A compact operating sequence for pilots, classrooms, and controlled data collection.

1

Write

Start, pause, and stop with a distraction-controlled editor.

2

Capture

Keystrokes, pauses, mouse, and focus are synchronized.

3

Export

Workbook and final text are generated for immediate review.

Session checklist

1

Before

Verify keyboard, browser, consent, and clear task instructions.

2

During

Reduce tab switching, keep the same device, avoid copy-paste interventions.

3

After

Open workbook, check final text length, archive with consistent naming.

Pilot recommendation

Run a 2-minute trial first and inspect it in Replay Studio before the full session.

Need to start now?

Go to Apps

Training sessions

YouTube @invedustat

Open on YouTube

FAQs

Fast answers for field teams

Questions that frequently appear during pilots and active data collection.

Do participants need to install anything?

No. TypeFlow runs in the browser. A physical keyboard is required for clean keystroke logging.

Does TypeFlow record audio or the full screen?

No screen recording. In standard apps, audio is not recorded either. In TypeFlow Speak sessions, audio is recorded for transcription-based research.

Can students use tablets or iPads?

Yes, but run a short pilot first. Use a physical keyboard and verify that key events are captured correctly.

How do I check that an export is valid?

Open the workbook, verify the final text, and inspect the session in Replay Studio to identify anomalies.

Can I merge files from different app versions?

Yes. You can merge workbooks using Workbook Merger Pro.

Is internet required?

Yes, TypeFlow is web-based. If you need an offline export-only setup, contact the author.

Where are the files stored?

Exports are stored locally on the participant device. In email mode, files can be sent by email. A backup copy is created on the TypeFlow server and deleted after one month.

Contact

Get in touch

Developed by Aitor Garces-Manzanera
University of Murcia

Email author Manifesto PDF

For collaboration requests, include project context, participant profile, and preferred output variables.