YouTube Time Saver

Learn your preferences and nudge you toward content you genuinely value.

Project Ulysses is a Chrome extension designed to help users improve their YouTube viewing habits. We often find ourselves drawn to videos that we know are a waste of time, lured by short-term gratification. Instead of blocking YouTube entirely, our tool personalizes what counts as "wasted time" based on your own ratings. 1. Wasted Time Timer When watching wasted videos, a timer is displayed on the screen showing the accumulated "wasted time." 2. Activity Calendar Each day, if wasted video time stays under 10 minutes, the calendar marks it green. If it exceeds 10 minutes, it turns red. The extension tracks the longest streak of green days, encouraging users to maintain a positive viewing habit over time. 3. Statistics Popup Clicking the extension icon opens a popup where users can view their stats. A Stats button reveals a graph comparing wasted time vs. regular video time, allowing users to visualize their YouTube habits over time. 4. Preference Report Based on a set of 20 emotional needs, the extension generates a personalized preference report for each user, helping them understand their unique viewing patterns. This report is further personalized through user feedback, using ChatGPT-4o-mini to adjust preferences based on input provided over time. 5. Rated Videos Users can rate the videos they've watched on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. These ratings are stored in chrome.storage.local and can be accessed through the popup. 6. Interactive Onboarding Guide A landing page introduces first-time users to the extension¡¯s features and controls. This guided onboarding ensures users quickly understand how to track their time, interpret stats, and use the preference report effectively.