Bulgaria Ski discussion board

No More Board at Work

Bansko DD Babe Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 13:50

No More Board at Work

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Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' softwareAlexi Mostrous and David Brown
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 ...
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Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' softwareAlexi Mostrous and David Brown
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.

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, told The Times: “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.”

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Yorkshire Terriers Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 14:31

re: No More Board at Work

We already have that at my work and it does not prevent us Smile
skimommy Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 14:38

re: No More Board at Work

oh my god. Big Brother IS watching. I'm reading Ben Etons lastest satirical novel Blind Faith. Blog says "A chilling vision if what's to come? Or something rather closer to what we call reality?" The above suggests the later!!!! Sad Sad Sad Sad Sad
Simes Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 19:00

re: No More Board at Work

Just turn it off nuf said
Daniel snell Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 20:15

re: No More Board at Work

No problem for those of us who work from home!
Yorkshire Terriers Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 20:21

re: No More Board at Work

Daniel - unless you work from home and connect to the office by VPN lol lol

YT
sam Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 20:24

re: No More Board at Work

they can only see when your conected though, at home whos to say you were the one on the computer!!!
Yorkshire Terriers Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 20:26

re: No More Board at Work

sam quite simple - I have 4 different passwords to use to access the computer and another to access the VPN system.

Therefore it is my responsibilty what happens on the laptop.

YT
sam Author: posts : 13   (Beginner)Date : 01-16-08 21:45

re: No More Board at Work

if I had that many pass words for my computer I would never get inti the dame thing! Confused