Tr1v14l Pursu1ts: I can hardly await the patches!

Maxims, rules of thumb and other observations on human cognition and sociocultural affectations

This will be added to on an irregular basis...

What is said to humans directly is received with skepticism and considered with dubiousness while that which is heard in passing, especially that which most conforms to their mentality or prejudices, is readily believed.
Humans have a certain cognitive latency between exposure to new information or experiences and the ability to think dispassionately and intellectually about it.
Humans have a certain cognitive spectrum starting with the moment of exposure to new information or experiences and ending with some point at which the thing is effectively "in the past" for them.
This cognitive spectrum is linked to the emotional process often referred to as shock, anger, denial and acceptance.
The more and faster information or experiences are presented to people and the closer the quarters and the lesser the distance between people, the more their early reactions in the passionate emotional stage are reflected back to them in the manner of responses to those reactions from others in light of those responses.
The more outrages which are suffered without sufficient time to allow emotional bleed-off, the farther the bar for subsequent reaction and outrage are pushed, and the more further events must progress before reaction and outrage.
It is possible for serious detriments to eventually sit below this threshold for long enough for their damaging effects to build and multiply until their entire society undergoes some reactive convulsion.

Friday, January 18, 2008

I can hardly await the patches!

Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software - Times Online

Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.

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. Unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer’s assessment of their physiological state.

Also, note the very nearly free advertising link for the new Macintosh laptop right at the top of the article! Negative Microsoft article? Perfect place to promote Apple at the same time! Opportunistic bastards...

One wonders if there will be enough room up the worker's asses to install the monitoring equipment given that it must compete with the already present heads and boots of their management. Oh wait, management keeps their heads up their own assess... I keep forgetting that.

Also, Steve Jobs is pictured serving his own smiling severed head to his loyal cultists.

"I'm sorry ma'am. Your husband was killed in an accident at work today. Apparently his monitoring system suffered an out of control memory leak exacerbated by a buffer overrun exploit executed by a twelve year old from Omaha via AOL which resulted in a general protection fault of his central nervous system. The coroner took six hours to remove the look of irony from his face."