More Invasive Technology Coming to an Office Near You

Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:00AM EST

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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?

 

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  • 6 Posted by flagal007 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Please......Please don't think that this is ok? I really think this is not far away. I've seen the company where I work change sooooo much in the last 5 yrs. It's little things that add to other little things. We r not important anymore. It's the 'Big Cheese' at the top. Can you say political? I refused to believe it but now it is obvious. I work all my working hour and then some using a mouse. God knows what kind of report I'd give them.

  • 7 Posted by bigdstocktrader on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am finishing college now and Thank God, will be self employed. But if I were still working in an office like I used to, and they implemented this, I would lead an office wide revolt and all of us who could afford to would threaten to quit immediately if this is implemented. I would also get all affected employees together and file a complaint with the labor board and possibly an invasion of privacy suit against the company. I was one of the most productive employees where I used to work; if you have your best employees that are normally not a problem threatening action like this, you know you have a serious problem. I know what the result would be - they would back down immediately and not implement it. Everyone at any office where this is possibly going to be implemented should organize labor and threaten a strike, a revolt, or a massive exodus. When the company gets 10 or more of their best and brightest turning in their notices, they will chnage their minds very quickly.

  • 8 Posted by four_ice_cubes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    this might, and i 'stress', might get people to quit these 'cubical jobs'. get back to working with our hands. craftsmanship has gone the way of the dinosaurs it this country. we, as a whole, may not have seen this coming, but you had to figure that it was leading up to this. by the by, they will implement a new program to check for people wearing gloves. so i think that's out.

  • 9 Posted by endaira541 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    If they really want to see stress levels go up, have a pop-up window come up demanding that you perform stress reduction exercises while you are in the middle of writing a presentation.

  • 10 Posted by laurabondd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't rember the name of the movie but a guy bought a nother guy's dna and went threw a lot of crud to go into space.. leaving hair and sking samples for the boss to find. because eggs scaned to take out flaws were the rich and the poor were the natural born. IT IS COMING AND SOONER THAN YOU THINK...

  • 11 Posted by daddy_75202 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I fully believe the boss will be able to do this, and you know whose fault it is? Ours! Until we as individuals educate ourselves about our constitutional rights, these occurrences will become commonplace. Stop consuming and learn the constitution. Take the time to find out who is the incumbent when you vote, and vote for the new guy regardless of what party you believe you are a part of, cuz guess what, YOU AREN'T A MEMBER. Take this country back at the citizen level, and invasive technology such as this will wither and die.

  • 12 Posted by susan_blagburn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Each day I find more reasons to drop off the grid. How long will it be before they implant micro chips in people's brains at birth so that they are monitored cradle -to -grave? It started with social security numbers and has continued to become more invasive every year. Where will it end?

  • 13 Posted by matthewcomings@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is illegal in the US. I have to sign a document at the dr.s office giving them permission to share my medical records with the insurance company. These are medical records and can not be shared without your approval.

  • 14 Posted by js_aumtek on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    If I am subject to repretative animal testing, I will start to fling my poo again.

  • 15 Posted by heyjim5586 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Monitoring heart rate and blood pressure may have a good effect...lowering of health care rates. early detection is always a good thing. And the fact that is is done through the mouse..that is about as non invasive as you can get. You know they can already read all of your emails, and discern what web sites you have been to, right? For those in a customer service roll, it could be very helpful...knowing when to tell you to take a break...or airline traffic control.. Everybody wants to knock it, but there could be lots of good to come out of it.

  • 16 Posted by js_aumtek on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    The worst thing is that when it crashes so do you.

  • 17 Posted by davidmzuber@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is just ridiculous! whatever happened to communicating with your employees rather than spying on them. I hear lawsuits coming!

  • 19 Posted by poweez on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    If I am under stress and a pop up comes on the screen I will pop the screen quickly. That will be soothing.

  • 20 Posted by x1agent2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Very typical of modern corporate robber Barons. This is the result of the steady loss of Unions representation in the work place. I have to pee test while the boss is exempt. I think they will start to have random house searches for theft next. Or perhaps stool inspections to insure you are eating healthy enough. WOW, and they think we are stressed!

  • 21 Posted by upscale2469 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    What's the big deal? Many businesses already have installed tiny hidden cameras and are monitoring their employees at the workplace! Computer programs are watching workers and measuring performance and productivity levels daily. Knowing worker's pulse rates and how much they sweat would be just the natural progression as technology gives bosses more and more tools to keep tabs on their employees!

  • 22 Posted by waddsworth69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't see this being practical at all. For one, people (employees) are obviously going to protest and refuse to participate. When that happens a supervisor has two options, fire the person or drop the entire monitoring effort - because if one person can opt out, then so can everybody. And firing really isn't a favorable option because no government (local, state, federal) would recognize it as a "for cause" termination - resulting in all the associated expenses of severance, unemployment, lost productivity, hiring resources, training resources, etc. And what's to gain from this? Seems like a distraction and stress producer in and of itself. "Monitoring System"? Hardly. More like "Micro-Management Deluxe Kit".

  • 23 Posted by tjleatherwood111 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    First thing I would do arriving at work, replace mouse with one of my own....no bio sensors then! or maybe I'd just use the keyboard shortcuts instead of mouse. :)

  • 24 Posted by rafitonyc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    If this is going to be used only some one with proper training like a psychologit should be able to make hiring/fireing decisions--that can destroy lives. Afterall, we do not want people going postal and this could very well trigger a very stressed out employee who gets fired to kill their boss.

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