Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft to Spy on Employees
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.'"
http://www.visar.com/AssistedSuicide.gif
anything like this?
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
Wait a second here... so this is being developed by Microsoft employees... FOR microsoft employees???? It's a wonder anybody still has any desire to work there.
I think Microsoft probably has hundreds of patents for things they don't ever intend to actually make, but just in case someone else does they want to be there to make a buck off of licensing. I highly doubt that they actually think this type of software would currently be accepted in today's climate, at least not unless they call it something innovative like "The USA Health-watch Patriot Software". I've found that its important to include the word "Patriot" in all aspects of your life, it really just gets you instant approval to do whatever you want!
Well, i'm off to use my iPatriot computer and drive my Patriot Chevy to the Patriot Meeting this afternoon. Come to think of it, thats probably why New England is winning so much, everyone else just needs to put Patriot in their team name!
"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." - Tennyson
Given how much my blood pressure skyrockets under the influence of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, I'm not sure that MS really will want this data due to liability issues. If MS collects data that shows that MS products reduce the health and wellbeing of users, that makes MS more culpable for those products. Of course, IANAL so maybe a new "not responsible for user's health" section of the the EULA will cover MS legally.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
The check on metabolism could be useful. Someone could die in this office and nobody would notice for a week.
There's an easy way to game the system and get it to read out that you are functioning at near infinite productivity. The system is set to handle all motions that resemble throwing a chair as super-productive. I hear it is a zeroday that has to do with the model they used for peak effeciency.
I got a catholic block.
This reminds me of the chapter in Snow Crash that focuses on YT's mom's job for the feds. Federal employees have to constantly take lie detector tests and all emails have a suggested reading time. If the employee reads a note faster than expected, they're probably skimming and not taking in all the information. If the employee takes too long to read, then they're probably slow or distracted. It was a great chapter tucked into the middle of the book.
Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
So Microsoft will know if your heart races because you saw something you shouldn't have, because you saw something that reveals you know too much, and they'll know if you are trying to cover up your panic instead of exhibiting a "WTF is this?" response?
Hmmmm.
Reminds me of some bloke I heard about once. Winston, I think his name was. Got fed information about something he shouldn't have known about at work, so his employer tested him out by slipping him a photo showing a meeting that should never have taken place. Winston reacted with instinct instead of controlling his emotions, which were observed... which eventually led to his incarceration, torture, and psychological breaking. Once that had happened, he was done in.
Funny story. Maybe someone should write a book about it. Or make a film.
Shiny. Let's be bad guys...
The only things it monitors is biometrics such as heart rate, etc? Well then why not add a camera. I mean how will they tell the difference between raised heart rate and breathing from work exertion compared to that of furious masturbation? I wouldn't be surprised if they start canning employees for "working" a little too hard wink wink nudge nudge. Also sounds a little soviet to me.... In soviet russia computer monitor you!
For once, I'll be glad to give IT help to our female temps.
If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
... knowing about the functioning of my kidneys!
*yank*
BTW, one thing that stood out to me in TFA was:
"The system could also "automatically detect frustration or stress in the user" and "offer and provide assistance accordingly".
Forgive my cynicism, but this seems a bit ... naive.
If I hadn't read a book I wouldn't comment on it. Cut and paste reviews are so obvious.
Security-Central: Looks like we have a dropper again..
Monitor1: User death imminent.
Monitor2: OK, notify MicroMorgue to fire up the incinerator, and dispatch two lawyers to deal with the family members. Send the wife a complimentary vista discount cupon.
Monitor1: Wait, he moved...
Monitor2: HOLD, ignore that MicroMorgue order and get the lawyers back to the Antitrust dep. again.
Monitor1: Hes fine, great. Another buck saved, however Thompson in dep. 2 doesnt look entirely healthy.
Monitor2: Inject 1500 MG of Vitamin-C in Subject 7271 Sector 1G, cubicle 1235.
Security-Central: Injecting vitamin-C now, #1000001, (Blue Screen of Death)
Monitor2: What the He..?
Monitor1: Cr*p! The d*mn machine broke down during the vitamin-c injection.
Monitor2: Uh, oh.... Thomson is running around naked, and thats no joystick...
Monitor1: Run the backup servers and have him injected with 15 mg SleepWell 2000.
Monitor2: The backup servers are runnin Linux...
Monitor1: Were screwed!
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
Oh wait
I suggest you all note that the only words quoted from the patent itself were "unique monitoring system" and "heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure"... I strongly suspect that there is a less-than-honest reason that the author saw fit selectively edit the excerpts in those particular places.
You can leap to your paranoid conclusions based on nearly nothing, but I am going to go with the more reasonable, intelligent, thoughtful assumption that it is actually software to allow hospitals to more cheaply monitor patients using a PC-based solution--until I hear otherwise, of course. (Though I do think it reflects VERY poorly on most of you that you so willingly swallow whatever line the media feeds you.)
1. Dr Chaplin, Charles, Modern Times, 1932. 2. Mr Orwell, George, 1984, 1948.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
This brings on a new meaning to the phrase "fired due to a computer glitch".
"We are all geniuses when we dream"
- E.M. Cioran
Google employees build things like gmail and calendar during the 20% time, MS employee decide to build an employee monitoring system. Talk about having to eat your own dog food. These employees are like the kid that always reminded your teacher on Friday to assign homework.
This is s sign that both employers and employees have bought into the hierarchal structure of business a little too much. The employer is hiring you to do a task not purchasing your mind, body, and soul. Yet all to often that's what they are given, so all too often that's what they expect. i.e. How often is a boss who is a complete dick called "sir" or "Mr." and treated with deference? Are Unions the only people left who really understand and act on the fact that the bossman needs the employees more than the employees need him? Yes, "employees" is plural on purpose.
My employer is quite right to monitor and judge the output and quality of my work, and when applicable to monitor how I effect the public image of the company and the work environment for my fellow employees. None of that includes my heart rate or my general state of health. I'm already being forced to contend with a nanny government, I don't need a nanny work environment as well.
We are all just people.
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?
I'm sure "chair throwing" will be overlooked. Well, at LEAST from the executive part of Microsoft.
You're too optimistic. No matter how hard you set the threshold, you'll always find people willing to ruin their health just to keep a shitty job. Plus, bad product is always caused by bad employees, never by bad management.
From experience, I'd say the only employee feedback that the HR directors understand well is waiting for them in the parking lot with a mask and a baseball bat, preferably with dozen of coworkers so you benefit from the emulation.
Unfortunately, 80% of the people seem to be unable in seeing subtle nuances. In fact, I doubt that subtlety or nuance is part of their vocabulary.
Of course, there is the 19% that does, but because they are the minority and generally express themselves in a subtle delicate and sophisticated manner, get ignored by the previous 80%.
Leaves us with 1% left. They have read the book and see the projected future as either inevitable or a great opportunity. And figure it is best for 99% of the population if they control this "gradual attrition of human rights via subtle nuances and ideals put in place by the powers that be". Which happens to be them in the first place.
It only takes one man to change the Wisdom of the Crowd to Tyranny of the Masses.
...and will this software be installed on their computers? To monitor their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure?
After all, "stress and frustration" have more serious consequences if they lead to bad decision-making.
How about generals? How about the Commander-in-Chief? Isn't their "productivity, physical wellbeing and competence" important?
Why do I somehow think that it is not going to be installed on any management machines... and that the stated rationales are pretexts?
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
As an endurance athlete with a freakishly low resting heart rate (42 bpm), I can tell you that every time I go to a new doctor they freak right the hell out around the time of my first physical. They tell me that I have an enlarged left ventricle and that I "obviously have heart disease"... Doc? Did you notice that I'm also about 5% body fat, have ripped legs, and a funny-looking tan? Yes. I'm an endurance geek. Yes, this fucks up your baseline.
When my heart rate is elevated due to office stress, it might jump into the 60s. This is going to screw with your readings.
Furthermore, isn't this more-or-less just a wireless polygraph where you're looking at data without asking questions? Where the hell is the accuracy in that?
blog |
1. monitor cardio and take turns visiting subject. The player achieving highest heart rate and blood pressure with the subject wins.
2. the same, but now you're only allowed to use the phone.
3. monitor keyboard activity. The goal now is to cause the longest possible pause without the subject leaving the cubicle.
I am sure you can match biometric data to how many widgets are produced, or even if your driver is likely to be alert (e.g. performing at a higher safety level.) But how can you tell if they are writing good, persuasive prose for that proposal, or cranking out good code or buggy crap that is ultimately negative productivity?
Collect all the data you want, just don't act on that data alone. You will probably find that different people are productive in different ways. One guy might produce 1/5 of his weekly product each day of the week and another might screw around reading Slashdot and watching YouTube, then produce an equal amount of work coding all night a couple of days a week.
I think the utility of such monitoring will depend on the task at hand more than finding "perfectly productive" workers.
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
What are the metabolic differences in human beings in front of computer screens showing:
- Java or C# code with an uninitialized pointer on line 336
- Porn
- The last 2 minutes of an eBay auction
- An e-mail from the CEO forecasting layoffs
- A memo from the pointy-headed boss about a project you have to do that will add nothing to the sum of human knowledge
- Sixty minutes after a department meeting with free pizza
- The stock market ticker this week, or ...
- Your cube neighbor fighting on the phone with her spouse about the divorce
- Realizing that your presentation for tomorrow's meeting was not saved before the computer crashed
How Microsoft ties all of the above together into a useful management tool will be an indicator of how far we will be on the True road to 1984. I am not hopeful.
* Special conditions: the employee agrees that any excess electricity generated by the employee in the patented chamber will be available for use by the Company, at no charge.
The system would allow managers to monitor employees' performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure.
I propose the Ballmer scale. All these measurements combined add up much as SpamAssasin rating system.
0.0. Normal state, even slightly happy.
0.1. Slightly upset, nothing to worry about.
0.2. Upset. Something's going on with this guy but he won't make it evident.
0.4. Angry. He's having a bad day, he'll be fine tomorrow.
0.6. Furious. Avoid when possible. Do not step in his way.
0.8. Very furious. Considered dangerous. Contact law enforcement immediately.
1.0. Berserker. Expect exploding forehead veins and mayor damage to company's furniture.
Another example of the evil empire at work. How can these guys sleep at night? Can you imagine a worse kind of privacy invasion? Bill Gates can give all his money away to charity but he's still going to hell.
"The system could also "automatically detect frustration or stress in the user" and "offer and provide assistance accordingly"."
I can't believe they actually added that to the patent filing. Just what every coder wants. Every few minutes some big brother style paper clip poping up on the screen asking them if they need assistance.... Or maybe a few streches.
TruePunk | Games
It looks like you're trying to kill yourself!
Would you like help?
* Get help with killing yourself.
* Just kill yourself without help.
O Show me this tip every time I start to show signs of optimism.
If you're an American (like I am) and they try to use biometrics, just watch some European porn at work. The porn will raise your BP, breathing and alertness measures, and the nuances of a diffrent langauge dialect will raise any thought metrics above a normal baseline, but not so much that the computer thinks you are confused or strugling tounderstand what you're doing.
On a more serious note, I think this is a bad idea because some people like a co-worker I have get easily `exctied` and panicy over little things, which the system might interpret as incompetence or `vigilence` but is truly neither. On the other hand, when it hits the fan, I'm always pretty level headed, and you don't see me panicing while reading error logs, so it could mark me as `under-performing` or `apathetic` very easily against the departmental baseline.
Forgive my spelling from time to time. I'm often posting during short breaks.
"...why not my heart rate?"
HIPAA establishes regulations for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) -- anything health related (health records, payment histories) that is linked to a specific employee.
Federal law states employers cannot do anything regarding your health information without your consent.
The Americans with Disabilities Act specifies:
* Employers may not ask job applicants about medical information or require a physical examination prior to offering employment.After employment is offered, an employer can only ask for a medical examination if it is required of all employees holding similar jobs.
* If you are turned down for work based on the results of a medical examination, the employer must prove that it is physically impossible for you to do the work required.
I don't think an employer really wants this. It may open them to an interesting liability avenue.
Imaginary scenario:
John Smith is sitting at his desk, typing away at the report for tomorrow's deadline. His blood pressure and heart rate spike momentarily, then calm down. His left arm becomes slightly numb, but he thinks nothing of this. About 20 minutes later, he drops dead.
His family turns and sues Megacorp. Megacorp had access to his vital statistics, and should have noticed the warning signs that he was having a heart attack. Had the company acted upon these all-too-obvious signs, it would have saved John's life. The courts rule with Ms. Smith, and award damages of US$40M. Megacorp goes bankrupt.
Reid.out
The Right Reverend K. Reid Wightman,
The Bill Gates Borg Icon never made so much sense...