JimWas Interview Assessment Assister

JimWas Interview Assessment Assister is a Python-based tool designed to assist with answering questions during online interviews or exams by leveraging the Google Gemini AI (gemini-1.5-flash model). The application captures screenshots of your screen at user-defined intervals (default: every 2 minutes), sends them to the Gemini API for analysis, and displays AI-generated responses in a user-friendly GUI.

To ensure compliance with exam proctoring software, the tool is designed to run on a secondary computer (e.g., a laptop or desktop) using remote desktop software such as VNC, NoMachine, or Windows RDP to connect to your primary exam-taking computer. This setup prevents the testing software from detecting the assistant, as it runs independently on a separate machine.

⚠️ Ethical Note: This tool is intended for educational and demonstration purposes only. Using it to gain an unfair advantage in exams or interviews may violate academic integrity or professional ethics policies. Always ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and use this tool responsibly, such as for practice exams or mock interviews.

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Demo Version

The demo version is provided as a standalone .exe file for Windows, making it incredibly easy to use:

• Download the jimwas-assist.exe file from the Releases page.
• Double-click to run—no need to install Python or dependencies.
• Enter your Google Gemini API key when prompted, and the tool is ready to assist!

The .exe is portable and works on any Windows 10/11 (64-bit) machine, bundling all necessary dependencies for a seamless experience.

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Features

• Automated Screenshot Capture: Captures your screen at customizable intervals (default: 120 seconds, minimum 10 seconds).
• Google Gemini AI Integration: Sends screenshots with a configurable prompt (default: "answer this question?") to the Gemini API for real-time analysis and responses.
• Remote Desktop Compatibility: Run on a secondary computer using remote desktop software (e.g., VNC, NoMachine, Windows RDP) to monitor your primary exam-taking computer’s screen without detection by proctoring software.
• User-Friendly GUI: Built with tkinter, featuring start/stop controls, interval settings, and a scrollable output window for AI responses.
• Secure API Key Input: Prompts for your Gemini API key at runtime via a secure dialog box, avoiding hardcoding or environment variables.
• Cross-Platform Support: Source code runs on Windows and macOS, with the demo .exe tailored for Windows.
• Error Handling: Robust handling for API and network issues, with detailed error messages displayed in the GUI and console for debugging.

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Use Case

This tool is perfect for simulating AI assistance during practice exams or mock interviews. By running the assistant on a secondary computer connected via remote desktop to your exam-taking machine, you can receive real-time AI-generated answers to questions displayed on your screen. Examples include:

• Technical Interviews: Analyze coding problems, algorithms, or whiteboard questions in real-time.
• Online Exams: Get AI responses to practice questions during mock exams to enhance learning.
• Educational Aid: Understand how Gemini AI interprets and answers complex questions during preparation sessions.

Important: To avoid detection by proctoring software (e.g., ProctorU, ExamSoft), always run this tool on a separate computer, not the exam-taking machine. Use remote desktop software to mirror the exam screen to the secondary computer.

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Requirements

Demo Version (.exe)

• Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• Google Gemini API key (get one here)
• Remote desktop software (e.g., VNC, NoMachine, Windows RDP)
• No Python or dependencies required—the .exe is self-contained

Source Code

• Python 3.9 or higher
• Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.15+
• Google Gemini API key
• Remote desktop software (as above)
• Python dependencies:

  pip install google-generativeai pyautogui pillow
  
  
  
  ## **Usage**
  

1. Set Up Remote Desktop:

   • Install remote desktop software (e.g., VNC, NoMachine, or Windows RDP) on both your primary (exam-taking) and secondary (assistant) computers.
   • From the secondary computer, connect to the primary computer’s screen to view the exam interface.

2. Launch the Assistant:

   • Demo Version: Double-click jimwas-assist.exe on the secondary computer (Windows only).
   • Source Code: Run the following command on the secondary computer:

     python jimwas-assist.py

   • Enter your Gemini API key in the secure dialog box that appears.

3. Configure and Start:

   • In the GUI, set the screenshot interval (e.g., 120 seconds for every 2 minutes).
   • Click Start to begin capturing screenshots of the remote desktop session (i.e., your primary computer’s exam screen).
   • Gemini AI will analyze each screenshot and display responses in the GUI’s output window.

4. Stop and Exit:

   • Click Stop to pause screenshot capture.
   • Close the GUI to exit the application.

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Avoiding Detection

To ensure proctoring software (e.g., ProctorU, ExamSoft) cannot detect the assistant:

• Run the tool exclusively on a secondary computer, not the exam-taking machine.
• Use reliable remote desktop software (VNC, NoMachine, or Windows RDP) to mirror the exam screen to the secondary computer.
• Verify that the proctoring software does not monitor remote desktop connections (most focus on the local machine’s processes).
• Test the setup during a practice session to confirm stability and compliance with exam rules.