Calling all Microsoft Lovers

Microsoft has just filed a patent for a system to

'monitor the health and mental state of computer users'.

I understand, the proposed technology would allow your boss to check work performance, levels of stress etc. This could be compared with your previous behaviour, or that of co-workers to look for emerging patterns. Perhaps to look for signs of underperformance or even criminal behaviour. It could be used during employee selection to determine who would be most suitable for a particular job.

The system described in the patent checks the computer use of an employee, for example, by logging actions such as web pages visited or words typed. These logs are then matched in real time with heart rate, breathing, body temperature, facial expressions and blood pressure. Of course, an employee would need to wear wireless sensors for all this to work. The patent suggests that other uses for the technology might include groups of users monitoring each other on social networking sites.

 

Rectal probe optional.

 

Who would work with a lie detector-like apparatus hooked up to you.
Sneeze, cough, etc., etc.

Talk about NO PRIVACY.

Makes me glad I'm retired.

 

It could also be used to rehabilitate video game addicts, you know some die.

Can't always look at the negative aspects.

 

LOL....

Or just have the OS shut the machine completely off an not boot up until 10 hours have elapsed.

 

In the mining industry in Australia it was mandatory to be breath analysed before you start each shift, in one mine that I worked for. When you consider that a driver might be driving a loaded 300+ tonne ore truck then that mightn't be such a bad idea.

At another mine where I worked, you had to play a "video" game before you started a shift. It consisted of trying to keep a gunsight cross on a target as the target moved about all over the place. The worse you performed, the more likely you were to be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, etc.

 

Yeah do you have a link to the patent?I can't see what the patent can be for what are they going to do stop other companies making monitoring machines that work while your on the computer?

They can stop the software being copied through standard copyright laws but using a monitoring system in a new situation isn't an original invention.

 

I don't have the link as all the US patent search sites I've seen demand up front payment. The information came to me by way of a trade bulletin.

So if anyone has a link I'm also interested

 

I think, as alluded to in this thread, there are a lot of easier, and more acceptable ways to monitor user performance.

On a quasi-note, seems MS is interested on monitoring our brain waves, and 'more intimately' connecting the user to the computer, according to this article:-

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...spx?guid=5FC1EC89-A444-4BD9-B436-FD8BBE879E26

 

True. Having worked in environments that monitor users (more for security while monitoring performance), in my simple opinion, I think this monitoring would be an overkill unless it is for certain skilled areas that require such information for ergonomic or safety or security reasons.