Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Tries To Charm EU With Future Visions

Posted by Zonk on from the we-love-teh-future dept.

RedStar writes "BBC Online has a piece on Microsoft's visions of the future as shown to Euro MPs in a charm operation." From the article: "This is more a new concept than a new technology, and the real version may still be a year or two away. It would track the mobile phone signals of loved ones, then cross-reference which mobile cell they were in with pre-programmed locations, like the home, school, or workplace. Ms Sellen added: 'This is not very specific at all about where people are, and that's deliberate. We don't want to invade people's privacy too much, so we deliberately keep things very coarse grained.'"

15 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Mix that..... by scenestar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    with the data retention laws and you have a totalitarian's wet dream.

    --
    perpetually dwelling in the -1 pits
    1. Re:Mix that..... by TCM · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ..or a criminal's worst nightmare.

      That's 100% correct. What I fear is just that the definition of "criminal" will change to include normal citizens pretty fast.

      How's that for yet another look at it?

      --
      Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
    2. Re:Mix that..... by LetterRip · · Score: 4, Interesting

      [QUOTE]..or a criminal's worst nightmare.[/QUOTE]

      Mr Criminal leaves the Cell phone at home, or turns it off, or blocks the signal. Hmmm there went your ability to track him. This will at best catch the extraordinarily stupid or crimes of passion. Both of which are pretty easy to catch right now.

      LetterRip

  2. You're misunderstanding! by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would track the mobile phone signals of loved ones, then cross-reference which mobile cell they were in with pre-programmed locations, like the home, school, or workplace.

    We don't want to be Big Brother. We want to make the tools so you can be Big Brother!

    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
    1. Re:You're misunderstanding! by AuMatar · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you need a tool like this in order to parent, you've already failed.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  3. Love that quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "don't want to invade people's privacy TOO MUCH"

    Emphasis mine, of course. But that's just so telling, isn't it?

    1. Re:Love that quote... by penguinoid · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not to be a tin-foil hat conspiracy theorist, but can't cell phone companies track you already? IIRC, it is even required for when you call 911, though they (generally) track you always, I think.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  4. This is awesome!!!! by Freaky+Spook · · Score: 4, Funny

    I cant wait to stalk my girlfriend with it.

    1. Re:This is awesome!!!! by JourneyExpertApe · · Score: 5, Funny

      When are geeks gonna learn? Just because a girl gets a restraining order against you, that doesn't make her your girlfriend. ;)

      --
      If you can read this sig, you're too close.
  5. Bwahahaha by somethinghollow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We don't want to invade people's privacy too much

    Yes. We want to invade their privacy just the right amount. :\

  6. Read that as "future versions" by PurifyYourMind · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But on a more serious note, people here might be surprised that UK people (at least those in London, if I recall correctly), aren't as worried about privacy/spying issues as you might think. London has had hundreds of cameras in its metro area to prevent crime. I think it would be a little worrying if it recorded political protests or other citizen-sensitive events. But overall I imagine there's a reduction in person-to-person crime there.

    1. Re:Read that as "future versions" by TeacherOfHeroes · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Just keep in mind that theres a bit of a difference between casually observing a public environment with a camera, and trackinging you in particular where ever you go by turning your cell phone into a 24/7 tracking device.

      My question is, will cellphones start to not turn off when the cell phone is "off". Will "off" now mean "really low power mode" - just enough to keep transmitting?

  7. Microsofts vision of the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    I have a pretty good idea of what Microsoft's vision of the future looks like. Something like this:
    Login Failed. Unknown Server: Samba4
    This page cannot be displayed. Please download Internet Explorer 8.
    File cannot be played. Unknown Codec: WMV4
    ERROR: This program requires a computer with a TPM chip installed.
    etc...
    Needless to say, I don't see Microsoft's vision of the future as a desirable goal.
  8. embrace and extend by fihzy · · Score: 5, Informative

    "This is more a new concept than a new technology, and the real version may still be a year or two away."

    Boy those Microsoft Reserchers are really innovative. I don't know how they keep managing to come up with this stuff

  9. It's not tracking *you*... by Froggy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...it's only tracking your phone. As such, it's pretty easy to avoid "surveillance": just leave the thing behind. Of course that means people can't ring you, but if you're really worried about your privacy you maybe don't want to be connected 24/7 anyway.

    Me, I lose the damn thing all the time anyway. "Where's Mama today? Oh look, she's been dropped behind the couch again."

    --
    It is a woman's prerogative to change other people's minds.