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Microsoft Tries To Charm EU With Future Visions

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.'"

6 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
  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.
  3. 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?

  4. 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. ;)

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    If you can read this sig, you're too close.
  5. 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.
  6. 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