Posted on 01/16/2008 11:35:37 AM PST by bamahead
Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker's productivity, physical well-being 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 metabolisms.
The system would allow managers to monitor employees' performance by measuring their heart rates, body temperatures, movements, facial expressions and blood pressure.
Labor unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer's assessment of their physiological state.
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 U.S. 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Double Tech and Libertarian ping.
On those really bad days all you’ll need to do is reboot.
Maybe they should fix Vista first instead of worrying about physical and mental subjugation of its employees.
see also:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954322/posts
and
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954283/posts
(mostly for comments)
Don’t monitor me bro!
There are no bathroom breaks, you will just empty your colostomy bag scheduled 5 minute lunch break.
It’s time to nationalize Microsoft. They have WAY too much time on their hands.
Take a peek in my head while I try to get this POS Vista to work.
She’ll never be fired unless she has a female boss . . .
I have a machine that runs Windows XP Pro at home. I use it to play games.
My other machines are CentOS Linux.
If you do nothing other than surf the internet, or read email, then my suggestion is “Download CentOS 4.3” (on four CD roms) and install it on your machine. If you’re scared of going directly to it, make your machine dual-bootable and use it for awhile and get used to it.
Use Firefox for your browser, and Thunderbird for your email program.
You can use your modem, cable connection, DSL, and wireless with Linux (though, I’ve been having issues with wireless so far, but I’ve not really worked with it that much on my linux machines).
Either way....
You don’t have to stay shackled to Windows if you don’t wanna.
Exactly, of all the addled brained nonsensical Bravo Sierra coming out of Redmond, this one has to be #1.
Vista functions poorly, and now they want to monitor employees with their crappy software?
Let me guess, if an employee swears at a Vista Network, that would count as “Dangerously unstable and in need of replacement/upgrade to zombie or typing monkey...”
bttt
It would be scary if Apple were doing it. The system might work.
My vital signs are none of my employer’s business.
Even then she's got a 2%-10% chance (depending on whose stats you believe).
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