Stand-Alone Apparatus and Related Method for Determining an Interval of Time Elapsed From a Certain Instant of Time by a Person Who Carries Out an Activity

A method for determining, by a stand-alone apparatus, an interval of time that has elapsed from a certain instant of time while a person is carrying out an activity under such conditions that a watch is not directly accessible, said stand-alone apparatus comprising:

• reproduction means adapted to reproduce at least one audio content,
• audio acquisition means adapted to pick up an audio signal containing a voice command,
• processing means in communication with at least said reproduction means and said audio acquisition means,
• the method comprising:
• detecting, through said processing means, that said at least one audio content is being reproduced by said reproduction means, and generating a time datum representing a duration of at least one interval of time during which said at least one audio content has been reproduced,
• counting, through said processing means, the duration of said at least one interval of time:
• either from the start of the reproduction of said at least one audio content or following the reception of a first voice command picked up by said audio acquisition means,
• and stopping said counting upon reception of a second voice command picked up by said audio acquisition means
• wherein said stand-alone apparatus is adapted to switch to a listening mode either from the start of the reproduction of said at least one audio content or following the reception of said first voice command picked up by said audio acquisition means, wherein said listening mode is in particular configured to detect predetermined voice commands.