More Invasive Technology Coming to an Office Near You

Working Guy, Chris Null first told us about Microsoft's patent application for a "unique monitoring system" that would keep tabs on a worker's productivity levels, physical and mental well-being, as well as competence. This so-called system would consist of wireless sensors that would measure a worker's heart rate, body temperature, brain signals, facial movements, and respiration rate. As if that wasn't enough, the system would also provide assistance and alert management if it sensed a worker was highly stressed or frustrated. Talk about invasive!

Now there are those who think it will take years before these type of monitoring systems start showing up at work, but the reality is they're already out there. The UK's Hot Forest Technology has developed Optimal Office, a system that the company says will help you (meaning the boss) "identify the stress fingerprint of your organization." It's not as intrusive as the system Microsoft is working on, but Optimal Office comes close.

Workers are given a special mouse with bio-sensors that capture a person's body temperature and galvanic skin response, which are used to detect the user's level of anxiety and stress. The same bio-feedback technology used in the mouse is the same used in lie detectors, so that should give you an idea of how accurate it can be.

If the system determines a person's baseline stress level is peaking, it will alert them via a pop-up box, and walk them through a series of stress reducing exercises that are supposed to help relax the person. All the while, the information is being sent to a web server so your boss can view it anytime and determine whether they need to fire or hire more people around the office. It's a good thing this system is still overseas, but it'll be only a matter of time before something like this creeps into the American workspace. What do you think? You think the boss could ever get away with this?