diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d666b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import datetime
+
+class FPS:
+    def __init__(self):
+        # store the start time, end time, and total number of frames
+        # that were examined between the start and end intervals
+        self._start = None
+        self._end = None
+        self._numFrames = 0
+
+    def start(self):
+        # start the timer
+        self._start = datetime.datetime.now()
+        return self
+
+    def stop(self):
+        # stop the timer
+        self._end = datetime.datetime.now()
+
+    def update(self):
+        # increment the total number of frames examined during the
+        # start and end intervals
+        self._numFrames += 1
+
+    def elapsed(self):
+        # return the total number of seconds between the start and
+        # end interval
+        return (self._end - self._start).total_seconds()
+
+    def fps(self):
+        # compute the (approximate) frames per second
+        return self._numFrames / self.elapsed()