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Microsoft to Spy on Employees

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the do-you-see-what-i-see dept.

4T writes "Forget about monitoring your computers with spyware, now they're going to monitor the users as well! '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.'"

4 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wait a second by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Informative

    Everyone instead leaps to, "my manager is going to be putting my heartrate on my review!"

    Maybe you should RTFA? They aren't aiming this at sports figures and deep sea divers. To quote:

    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.

    Another interesting quote:

    The system could also "automatically detect frustration or stress in the user" and "offer and provide assistance accordingly".

    Great! I can just see it now. Clippy pops up on my screen: "It looks like you are extremely frustrated with your current job? Would you like my assistance in composing your resume?"

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  2. Obligatory quote... by Vexler · · Score: 3, Informative

    CAPCOM - GOLD
    - Uh, Thirteen. This is Houston. Jim, we just had a drop out
    on your biomed sensors?

    JIM LOVELL
    - I'm not wearing my biomed sensors, Houston.

    CAPCOM - GOLD
    - Okay, Jim. Copy that.

    DR. CHUCK (FLIGHT SURGEON)
    - Flight. Now I'm losing all three of them!

    GENE KRANTZ (FLIGHT DIRECTOR - WHITE)
    - It's just a little medical mutiny, Doc I'm sure the guys
    are still with us. Let's cut 'em some slack, okay?

  3. Re:Wait a second by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I work for Microsoft ( in Europe ), good luck implementing this :)

    We cannot agree on the colour of shit never mind getting something like this to work :)

    Most of the time our employees are STUDENTS and our employee churn is so fast that we have a revolving door.

    MSFT's employee ID's are near half a million, they are UNIQUE per employee in their entire LIFETIME. THat is how many employee's they have been through in the past 5 years (back then it was in the low hundred thousands).

  4. Re:No one offers assistance like microsoft by locust · · Score: 4, Informative

    Did you even read the article? Line One: Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker's productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.. Which part of that "isn't intended for use in a work environment"?

    You say:
    "Everyone here trying to apply it to a regular 9 to 5 job setting is obviously going to get the wrong idea."

    But then the article goes on (paragraph 3):
    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.

    we are getting just the right idea... of what kind of a hellish place this kind of system would produce.