Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    ELITE v85rawdeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth, UK
    Posts
    1,334
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0

    Are you reading this at work?

    Then maybe this could be bad news for you...

    Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.

    The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a computer system that links workers to their computers via wireless sensors that measure their metabolism. The system would allow managers to monitor employees’ performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure. Unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer’s assessment of their physiological state.

    It wants to know everything about you. It wants to be your best friend — or your Big Brother. Are your secrets safe with Google?

    Technology allowing constant monitoring of workers was previously limited to pilots, firefighters and Nasa astronauts. This is believed to be the first time a company has proposed developing such software for mainstream workplaces.

    Microsoft submitted a patent application in the US for a “unique monitoring system” that could link workers to their computers. Wireless sensors could read “heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure”, the application states.

    The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help.

    The Information Commissioner, civil liberties groups and privacy lawyers strongly criticised the potential of the system for “taking the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level”. Hugh Tomlinson, QC, an expert on data protection law at Matrix Chambers, said: “This system involves intrusion into every single aspect of the lives of the employees. It raises very serious privacy issues.”

    Peter Skyte, a national officer for the union Unite, said: “This system takes the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level with a new level of invasiveness but in a very old-fashioned way because it monitors what is going in rather than the results.” The Information Commissioner’s Office said: “Imposing this level of intrusion on employees could only be justified in exceptional circumstances.”

    The US Patent Office confirmed last night that the application was published last month, 18 months after being filed. Patent lawyers said that it could be granted within a year.

    Microsoft last night refused to comment on the application, but said: “We have over 7,000 patents worldwide and we are proud of the quality of these patents and the innovations they represent. As a general practice, we do not typically comment on pending patent applications because claims made in the application may be modified through the approval process.”
    This is not a signature

  2. #2
    I am Legion for we are many. Staff Member
    My location

    Buleste's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Staffordshire Moorlands
    Posts
    4,079
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0
    Next thing will be the reintroduction of manacles and the cat o' ninetails. Slavedriving Bastards.
    A1200 Power Tower
    OS 3.9 / CGX4 / OS4.0
    Blizzard 210Mhz (overclocked to 266Mhz) 603e PPC with 25Mhz 040 (Overclocked to 33Mhz) 256Mb RAM
    ZIV
    CV64/3D
    3.2Gb HDD + 20GB HDD

  3. #3
    ELITE v85rawdeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Portsmouth, UK
    Posts
    1,334
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0
    And they'll be checking your urine just to make sure you are who you say you are.
    This is not a signature

  4. #4
    I am Legion for we are many. Staff Member
    My location

    Buleste's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Staffordshire Moorlands
    Posts
    4,079
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0
    On a slightly different note. If you have to do a urine test and you are going to test positive for opiates make sure that you are seen eating something that contains a lot of poppy seeds as this turns up a false positive and that way you have am alibi.
    A1200 Power Tower
    OS 3.9 / CGX4 / OS4.0
    Blizzard 210Mhz (overclocked to 266Mhz) 603e PPC with 25Mhz 040 (Overclocked to 33Mhz) 256Mb RAM
    ZIV
    CV64/3D
    3.2Gb HDD + 20GB HDD

  5. #5
    Retro Addict Administrator
    My location

    Burger Time Champion, Sonic Champion Harrison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    16,650
    Blog Entries
    1
    Downloads
    6
    Uploads
    14
    I will have to remember to carry a poppy seed covered roll with me at all times just in case!

    If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!


  6. #6
    Deadly VIP
    TiredOfLife's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    1,067
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Like m$ could ever get that working properly.

    Why not first try getting together a decent OS?
    Sam440EP & AOS4.1, 250 gig SATA HD & DVD Rewriter.

    Towered A1200 3.1 rom, OS3.9 and OS4.0
    PPC 166 mhz 060 50mhz, 192 meg.
    Buffered Interface, 40 & 80 gig HDs, CD & DVD Rewriters.
    Mediator 1200TX, Voodoo 5500, Radeon ATI 9200, Audio, USB, Ethernet, TV/FM.
    Card reader and 19" TFT Monitor.

  7. #7
    Retro Addict Administrator
    My location

    Burger Time Champion, Sonic Champion Harrison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    16,650
    Blog Entries
    1
    Downloads
    6
    Uploads
    14
    I can imagine the initial bugs. Either an elevated heart rate would crash the system, or would electrocute the person it is monitoring.

    If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!


  8. #8
    The Darth Popsicle! VIP
    Bug Champion Sharingan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Olanda!
    Posts
    1,083
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    So, do we get to have an intravenous syringe inserted that will automatically administer caffeine when we're in danger of dozing off, or a calming medicine when stress reaches critical levels?

    Great ideas, Microsoft

  9. #9
    Retro Addict Administrator
    My location

    Burger Time Champion, Sonic Champion Harrison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    16,650
    Blog Entries
    1
    Downloads
    6
    Uploads
    14
    Copyright 2100 - Microsoft Borg

    If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!


  10. #10
    I am Legion for we are many. Staff Member
    My location

    Buleste's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Staffordshire Moorlands
    Posts
    4,079
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0
    It's a M$ prouct so within a week of it being released someone will have hacked into it so that you can be shown as 110% productivity even when you're playing Solittaire.
    A1200 Power Tower
    OS 3.9 / CGX4 / OS4.0
    Blizzard 210Mhz (overclocked to 266Mhz) 603e PPC with 25Mhz 040 (Overclocked to 33Mhz) 256Mb RAM
    ZIV
    CV64/3D
    3.2Gb HDD + 20GB HDD

Similar Threads

  1. Christmas games. Can anyone get these ones to work?
    By Harrison in forum WinUAE settings
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 30th December 2007, 17:13
  2. Does WINUAE work in a USB HD 2.5?
    By Tiago in forum Hardware
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 28th December 2007, 15:03
  3. Pet Hates at Work
    By TiredOfLife in forum General Chat
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 21st August 2007, 15:30
  4. Great piece of work
    By Demon Cleaner in forum General Chat
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 17th August 2007, 23:56

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Copyright classicamiga.com