The Thunderer has a story today about Microsoft applying for a patent on software that monitors working:
Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.
This idea is nothing new – if anyone believes that their workstation at work is in any way private, they are seriously deluded. The IT department has access to everything that you get up to – which is why from time to time, people get dismissed for downloading pornography or blogging at work or whatever. Given that it is the employer’s IT system, they have every right to monitor its use.
This software, however, does rather more than that.
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.
What the fuck? Now that is going too far. It is none of the employer’s business what a worker’s metabolism is getting up to. None.
Unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer’s assessment of their physiological state.
In the short term, I doubt that. However, in the longer term, I could see such “evidence” being used to put someone on long-term sick and eventually dismiss them on the basis of their inability to work – much the type of thing that happened to Dr Z. Certainly it is not a tool the employer needs to assess competence.
The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”.
Um, if I’m feeling stressed out, the last thing I want is someone offering assistance. If I need assistance, I’ll ask for it. Frustration and stress is a part of life. That said, if the employer places an employee under sustained stress, that is another matter and it doesn’t take a monitor to figure that one out.
Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health.
Here we go…
None of any of this is anyone’s business but that of the individual. If, and only if, any of this affects work, does it become the employer’s business.
Frankly, if you really want to stress me out, hook me up to a computer and constantly monitor my metabolism – that should just about do it.
What is it with these fucktards? Every little twerp seems to want to get in on the “spying on our every move” act these days. Have we become so conditioned to constant surveillance?
I thought frustration and stress was part and parcel of Microsoft office; I haven’t used it since that annoying bloody paperclip was introduced….. that put the blood presssure up.
I’ve had to revert back to MS Office from Open Office. My new contract requires electronic signatures using a tablet PC. Open Office doesn’t cut the mustard, I’m afraid.
To be fair, Office 2007 isn’t bad. Oh, and that bloody paperclip has gone…