Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? - The Orange Mane

alkemical · 01-04-2008, 10:34 AM

Microsoft readies Hal 9000

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...t_big_brother/

It gives a whole new meaning to the word "micromanager."

Judging from a recent patent application (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...N/20070300174), Microsoft hopes to build some sort of "activity monitoring system" that keeps an eye on worker productivity using various "physiological or environmental sensors." These sensors would track everything from heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, facial expressions, and blood pressure to brain signals and galvanic skin response.

Yes, galvanic skin response is what drives a lie detector.

Redmond sees this system as a way for companies and, um, governments to monitor "group activities." "In particular, the system can monitor user activity, detect when users need assistance with their specific activities, and identify at least one other user that can assist them," the patent application reads, in classic patent speak. "Assistance can be in the form of answering questions, providing guidance to the user as the user completes the activity, or completing the activity such as in the case of taking on an assigned activity."

In other words: If you don't do your duty, the system will make sure your duties are assigned to someone else.

The system is designed to provide its unique brand of "assistance" as workers slave away on various computing devices, including desktops, laptops, and cell phones. But it doesn't just track your physical use of such devices. It also monitors things like "frustration and stress."

And it always knows whether you can handle this frustration and stress. "Baseline or 'normal' parameters for each user can be established in view of the fact that different body types and sizes and personalities can display different physical, mental, and emotional responses to similar situations," the patent application continues. "For example, an elevated heart rate during tax return preparation may be considered normal for one user and not an indication that help is needed but for another user, the inverse may be true."

Plus, all this personal information is safely stored away for future use. According to Microsoft, that's a good thing. "The system can aggregate activity data across users and/or devices. As a result, problems with activity templates or activities themselves can be more readily identified, user performance can be readily compared, and users can communicate and exchange information regarding similar activity experiences."

If you ask us, we'd feel safer under the care of the Hal 9000. ®

baja · 01-04-2008, 12:03 PM

Life is starting to parallel some aspects of this movie.

http://www.theisland-themovie.com/

theAPAOps5 · 01-04-2008, 12:39 PM

That is disturbing to say the least. Bill Gates and his monotone voice could easily be dubbed onto the monitor system.

TheDave · 01-04-2008, 12:42 PM

Jesus, mary, and joseph... what next.

My kids are going to have somes bizarre problems to solve in their lifetime...

alkemical · 01-04-2008, 12:49 PM

I know Dave - what sort of ethics are going to be required for the future. It's one reason i'm a fan of PKD novels.

Spider · 01-04-2008, 01:41 PM

The Spider thinks this is a bad thing , something off of star trek .... And the Spider think the Dave will use this to cheat and win a Survivor challenge .....

Spider · 01-04-2008, 01:48 PM

. trucking has had a system like that sine the early 90's
They have the qual comm system now , they are accurate with in 100 yards of where a truck is , how fast you are going , how much fuel you use , if you leave your truck idling .....you can communicate with the home office ,they can even tell if you have a rider with you ..... I drove 1 truck for 2 weeks with one of those , I put the damn thing outside my driver window in a rain storm , shorted it out , then pull over used a pay phone in Toledo ohio told them , I am Coming home , I quit .... Damn thing was a pain in the ass ..... red light kept on flashing , very distracting .......

alkemical · 01-04-2008, 01:49 PM

It didn't tell you that your antenna was broke, did it?

Spider · 01-04-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claviculasolomonis

It didn't tell you that your antenna was broke, did it?

Nope

alkemical · 01-04-2008, 01:57 PM

Dudeskey · 01-04-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spider

. trucking has had a system like that sine the early 90's
They have the qual comm system now , they are accurate with in 100 yards of where a truck is , how fast you are going , how much fuel you use , if you leave your truck idling .....you can communicate with the home office ,they can even tell if you have a rider with you ..... I drove 1 truck for 2 weeks with one of those , I put the damn thing outside my driver window in a rain storm , shorted it out , then pull over used a pay phone in Toledo ohio told them , I am Coming home , I quit .... Damn thing was a pain in the ass ..... red light kept on flashing , very distracting .......

My Qualcomm is a piece of ****... Its got about a 2 hour delay or so... My dispatcher will be tracking me some place I was about that long ago... Usually I pull the plug on it in the back until I need to use it so I don't have to deal with the BS.

I don't have a problem w/ my company wanting to know how fast their truck is going, MPG, idle time, etc... But for an owner operator, thats where I'd draw the line...

But this system described in the UK paper is going too far...

Spider · 01-05-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urinal_Cake

My Qualcomm is a piece of ****... Its got about a 2 hour delay or so... My dispatcher will be tracking me some place I was about that long ago... Usually I pull the plug on it in the back until I need to use it so I don't have to deal with the BS.

I don't have a problem w/ my company wanting to know how fast their truck is going, MPG, idle time, etc... But for an owner operator, thats where I'd draw the line...

But this system described in the UK paper is going too far...

not only that they cost a **** load of money .... My truck is in the shop right now getting a new fifth wheel and a rearend ........Yhe company I drove for had qualcomm was Navajo out of Denver

Los Broncos · 01-05-2008, 01:50 AM

Does this mean no more porn at work?

enjolras · 01-05-2008, 03:18 AM

There are places where technology like this IS probably really useful.

It might be nice to know if an air-traffic controller is struggling for one. Things where others safety are dependent on someones emotional state.

Will definitely be abused tho.

elsid13 · 01-06-2008, 11:17 AM

Well on good side it Microsoft developing, so most likely it will have so many bugs and BSD that it won't be usefully for anything.

alkemical · 01-08-2008, 09:04 AM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1965

Scientists create machine that knows what you are thinking

Scientists have developed a machine which is capable of reading our mind and revealing our most private thoughts.

American researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, found that, with the aid of a sophisticated scanner and computer programme, they were able to determine how the brain lights up when thinking about different subjects.

Using an advanced form of MRI scanner, they analysed how the brain reacted to ten drawings of tools and buildings.

They then used a computer programme to work out whether a person was thinking about a tool or a building.

The researchers' analysis was found to be 97 per cent accurate but they went on to show that they could distinguish between two similar objects, such as two different tools, almost as successfully.

This is the first time the technique has been finetuned to distinguish between similar objects.

The brain scans also showed many different brain regions are involved in processing information even in the case of something as simple as a line drawing of a hammer.

Thinking about how a hammer is used activated the areas involved in movement, while thinking about the shape of a hammer and what it is used for lit up other regions.

Despite being limited to picking up the thoughts behind just ten pictures, the researchers are confident that they will soon be able to identify entire sentences.

One of the team, Dr Svetlana Shinkareva, said: "We hope to progress to identifying the thoughts associated not just with pictures but also with words and eventually sentences."

The technique could also have medical applications by, for example, providing valuable insights into conditions such as autism.

Study leader Professor Marcel Just said: "People with autism perceive others in a distinctive way that has been difficult to characterise.

"This approach offers a way to discover that characterisation."

The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, also showed that different people think about the same thing in the same way.

"This part of the study establishes, as never before, that there is a commonality in how different people's brains represent the same subject," the study said.

"There has always been a philosophical conundrum as to whether one person's perception of the colour blue is the same as another person's.

"Now we see that there is a great deal of commonality across different people's brain activity corresponding to familiar tools and dwellings."

The device's possibilities can, however, be extended and the team envisage a time when it will be used to conduct infallible lie detector tests, while the accurate interpretation of a person's intentions could allow police to arrest criminals before they break the law, as seen in the film Minority Report.

01-04-2008, 10:34 AM	#1
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? Microsoft readies Hal 9000 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...t_big_brother/ It gives a whole new meaning to the word "micromanager." Judging from a recent patent application (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...N/20070300174), Microsoft hopes to build some sort of "activity monitoring system" that keeps an eye on worker productivity using various "physiological or environmental sensors." These sensors would track everything from heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, facial expressions, and blood pressure to brain signals and galvanic skin response. Yes, galvanic skin response is what drives a lie detector. Redmond sees this system as a way for companies and, um, governments to monitor "group activities." "In particular, the system can monitor user activity, detect when users need assistance with their specific activities, and identify at least one other user that can assist them," the patent application reads, in classic patent speak. "Assistance can be in the form of answering questions, providing guidance to the user as the user completes the activity, or completing the activity such as in the case of taking on an assigned activity." In other words: If you don't do your duty, the system will make sure your duties are assigned to someone else. The system is designed to provide its unique brand of "assistance" as workers slave away on various computing devices, including desktops, laptops, and cell phones. But it doesn't just track your physical use of such devices. It also monitors things like "frustration and stress." And it always knows whether you can handle this frustration and stress. "Baseline or 'normal' parameters for each user can be established in view of the fact that different body types and sizes and personalities can display different physical, mental, and emotional responses to similar situations," the patent application continues. "For example, an elevated heart rate during tax return preparation may be considered normal for one user and not an indication that help is needed but for another user, the inverse may be true." Plus, all this personal information is safely stored away for future use. According to Microsoft, that's a good thing. "The system can aggregate activity data across users and/or devices. As a result, problems with activity templates or activities themselves can be more readily identified, user performance can be readily compared, and users can communicate and exchange information regarding similar activity experiences." If you ask us, we'd feel safer under the care of the Hal 9000. ®

01-04-2008, 01:57 PM	#10
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	lol

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01-04-2008, 12:03 PM	#2
baja It is what it Is. Pay attention. Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 53,771 Adopt-a-Bronco: Buy My Book	Life is starting to parallel some aspects of this movie. http://www.theisland-themovie.com/

01-04-2008, 12:39 PM	#3
theAPAOps5 A new beginning! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 26,057 Adopt-a-Bronco: Watermock - RIP	That is disturbing to say the least. Bill Gates and his monotone voice could easily be dubbed onto the monitor system.

01-04-2008, 12:42 PM	#4
TheDave Sauced... Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15,120	Jesus, mary, and joseph... what next. My kids are going to have somes bizarre problems to solve in their lifetime...

01-04-2008, 12:49 PM	#5
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	I know Dave - what sort of ethics are going to be required for the future. It's one reason i'm a fan of PKD novels.

01-04-2008, 01:41 PM	#6
Spider Mr Diplomacy I survived Tebow Mania at the Mane Join Date: May 2001 Location: Elway was just an arm =MacGruder Posts: 84,438 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	The Spider thinks this is a bad thing , something off of star trek .... And the Spider think the Dave will use this to cheat and win a Survivor challenge .....

01-04-2008, 01:48 PM	#7
Spider Mr Diplomacy I survived Tebow Mania at the Mane Join Date: May 2001 Location: Elway was just an arm =MacGruder Posts: 84,438 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	. trucking has had a system like that sine the early 90's They have the qual comm system now , they are accurate with in 100 yards of where a truck is , how fast you are going , how much fuel you use , if you leave your truck idling .....you can communicate with the home office ,they can even tell if you have a rider with you ..... I drove 1 truck for 2 weeks with one of those , I put the damn thing outside my driver window in a rain storm , shorted it out , then pull over used a pay phone in Toledo ohio told them , I am Coming home , I quit .... Damn thing was a pain in the ass ..... red light kept on flashing , very distracting .......

01-04-2008, 01:49 PM	#8
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	It didn't tell you that your antenna was broke, did it?

01-05-2008, 01:50 AM	#13
Los Broncos Ring of farmers Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Anaheim Hills, Santa Ana Mountains CA Posts: 18,766 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	Does this mean no more porn at work?

01-05-2008, 03:18 AM	#14
enjolras Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,939	There are places where technology like this IS probably really useful. It might be nice to know if an air-traffic controller is struggling for one. Things where others safety are dependent on someones emotional state. Will definitely be abused tho.

01-06-2008, 11:17 AM	#15
elsid13 Lost In Space Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: DC Posts: 19,080	Well on good side it Microsoft developing, so most likely it will have so many bugs and BSD that it won't be usefully for anything.

01-08-2008, 09:04 AM	#16
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1965 Scientists create machine that knows what you are thinking Scientists have developed a machine which is capable of reading our mind and revealing our most private thoughts. American researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, found that, with the aid of a sophisticated scanner and computer programme, they were able to determine how the brain lights up when thinking about different subjects. Using an advanced form of MRI scanner, they analysed how the brain reacted to ten drawings of tools and buildings. They then used a computer programme to work out whether a person was thinking about a tool or a building. The researchers' analysis was found to be 97 per cent accurate but they went on to show that they could distinguish between two similar objects, such as two different tools, almost as successfully. This is the first time the technique has been finetuned to distinguish between similar objects. The brain scans also showed many different brain regions are involved in processing information even in the case of something as simple as a line drawing of a hammer. Thinking about how a hammer is used activated the areas involved in movement, while thinking about the shape of a hammer and what it is used for lit up other regions. Despite being limited to picking up the thoughts behind just ten pictures, the researchers are confident that they will soon be able to identify entire sentences. One of the team, Dr Svetlana Shinkareva, said: "We hope to progress to identifying the thoughts associated not just with pictures but also with words and eventually sentences." The technique could also have medical applications by, for example, providing valuable insights into conditions such as autism. Study leader Professor Marcel Just said: "People with autism perceive others in a distinctive way that has been difficult to characterise. "This approach offers a way to discover that characterisation." The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, also showed that different people think about the same thing in the same way. "This part of the study establishes, as never before, that there is a commonality in how different people's brains represent the same subject," the study said. "There has always been a philosophical conundrum as to whether one person's perception of the colour blue is the same as another person's. "Now we see that there is a great deal of commonality across different people's brain activity corresponding to familiar tools and dwellings." The device's possibilities can, however, be extended and the team envisage a time when it will be used to conduct infallible lie detector tests, while the accurate interpretation of a person's intentions could allow police to arrest criminals before they break the law, as seen in the film Minority Report.