Microsoft is seeking to patent a technology that will allow computers to be link, via wireless sensors, to workers to measure their metabolism.
The patent application, which was seen by The Times, would allow managers "to monitor employees’ performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure.", which would not be unlike the lie detector used in cop series and spy movies.
The system would also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”, which according to some, is a blatant violation of an individual privacy.
In another article, The Times goes into more details on how the system would work: the system, which works indiscriminately on a laptop, mobile phone or desktop, would record and analyse what words and numbers are used and what websites or pages are visited.
According to the notes, face recognition as well as breathing and heart rate would also be taken into account to provide with a benchmark for "normal physiological readings" based on someone's behaviour and body type.
The killer aspect though has to be the fact that this data would be collected over a long period of time and there are "fears" that this technology would help managers monitor "workers' competence and productivity" too closely.
The patent application, which was seen by The Times, would allow managers "to monitor employees’ performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure.", which would not be unlike the lie detector used in cop series and spy movies.
The system would also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”, which according to some, is a blatant violation of an individual privacy.
In another article, The Times goes into more details on how the system would work: the system, which works indiscriminately on a laptop, mobile phone or desktop, would record and analyse what words and numbers are used and what websites or pages are visited.
The killer aspect though has to be the fact that this data would be collected over a long period of time and there are "fears" that this technology would help managers monitor "workers' competence and productivity" too closely.
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