Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software

Ollie64 on 16 January 2008 - 10:37 · 12 comments & 8463 views

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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.

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News source: Times Online

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(3 replies) #1 jwjw1 on 16 Jan 2008 - 10:59

maybe MS will test this software on their own employee's first.....does it monitor 'brain-waves' too?....LOL

Just Kidding

#1.1 Lasker on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:02

Specially the ones that created Vista, they did a terrible job.

#1.2 jwjw1 on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:13

you mean 'joe vista' never even registered a heart-beat for the last 2 years...where was this software when you needed it...LOL

#1.3 GreyWolfSC on 16 Jan 2008 - 15:33

Quote - (Lasker said @ #1.1)

Specially the ones that created Vista, they did a terrible job.

Vista Apple Blu-Ray HD-DVD Xbox PS3 Wii... Let's all start a flame war!

#2 n_K on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:14

theres certain people with very large rucksacks that police really dont like, just kinda makes you hope that one will walk into the MPAA and RIAA one day, and another will walk into where the idiots that suggested this work as well

(2 replies) #3 HawkMan on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:24

There's way too much assumptions going on about the evil uses of this.

#3.1 jwjw1 on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:39

actually, I don't understand why a Boss would need this?...if he wants to see how 'production' is going...get off his fat doughnut a__ and act human and mengle with the employees...see how the real humans are working,feeling...or is it more because he wants to view this software from the comforts of his yacht in the bahamas.....if people are so bored and need to 'create' such Big Brother Software..then why not create it for monitoring 'Rapist,Murderers,Child Molesters' that are locked up.

Last edited by jwjw1 on 16 Jan 2008 - 11:59

#3.2 markjensen on 16 Jan 2008 - 13:20

Quote - (HawkMan said @ #3)

There's way too much assumptions going on about the evil uses of this.

There are way too many opportunities for evil uses of this.

#4 C_Guy on 16 Jan 2008 - 15:41

So you don't even need to know how to manage people now. Just hook up a computer and let it decide who is working hard enough.

This not only makes an organization much less human it is a huge invasion of privacy. I would never let my boss hook up equipment to my body to monitor me throughout the day and this is no different.

#5 Harper on 16 Jan 2008 - 16:28

....leave it to Microsh!t to be the gatekeeper to Big Brother/Big Business.

#6 Miles Acton on 16 Jan 2008 - 18:07

why is it that whenever somebody creates something that allows your superiors (in the workplace) to watch what you do, people get so worked up? what are you hiding? here's the two step process to not having a problem with this:

1. dont play games at work
2. do your work

problem solved!

#7 toadeater on 17 Jan 2008 - 00:55

They need to put one of these on Dick Cheney.

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Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software

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