Progressive Tory Posted February 12, 2009 Report Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) First off, I'm not a techno-wizard, by any stretch. I don't even own a cellphone. However, I came across an article recently that gave me pause. In an era of videotape and GPS, it seems that we're always connected to something or someone. A new innovation from Google, known as 'Google Latitude', now allows you to have a GPS system built in to your mobile device. Part of it's promotions says: "Latitude is a new feature for Google Maps on your mobile device. It's also an iGoogle gadget on your computer. Once you've opted in to Latitude, you can see the approximate location of your friends and loved ones who have decided to share their location with you. So now you can do things like see if your spouse is stuck in traffic on the way home from work, notice that a buddy is in town for the weekend, or take comfort in knowing that a loved one's flight landed safely, despite bad weather." However, one blogger brought up a point that may be worth discussing. What if your boss wants you on Google Latitude? Often the cellphones belong to a company. Is this an infringement and can you refuse? Delivery drivers usually have GPS in their vehicles, anyway. But if your job involves a lot of time out of the office, do you feel that your company has the right to know where you are at every moment of the day? After hours? Not at all? Edited February 12, 2009 by Progressive Tory Quote "For all our modesty and self-deprecation, we’re a people who dream great dreams. And then roll up our sleeves and turn them into realities." - Michael Ignatieff "I would not want the Prime Minister to think that he could simply fail in the House of Commons as a route to another General Election. That's not the way our system works." Stephen Harper.
GostHacked Posted February 12, 2009 Report Posted February 12, 2009 My employer only needs to know where I am between the hours of 9am-5pm. And my employer only needs to know how long it will take me to get to the warehouse when I get paged. GPS on a truck is a great thing. We track all our trucks this way. Trucks break down, we can see where they are and provide the assistance needed. Employers need to trust their workforce, but at the same time, it is going to be a couple stupid people who will ruin it for the rest of the able workers. If you need to be tracked all the time, someone did something really dumb that warrants this kind of action. And you pay the price because your coworker is an idiot. If you and your employer have a great relationship and trust/confidence is there. If you do happen to step out for whatever reason, you just gotta be upfront with the employer about it and you won't have any issues or repercussions. Certain jobs where people need to know were everyone is, like forest workers, power linesmen, anything where the crew needs to be in contact with each other at all times and must know were everyone is at all times ... firefighters comes to mind. ... then this technology is crucial in these lines of work. But if you are wearing an ankle bracelet when working at the local Quickie Mart, you might want to consider getting another job. Even a cell phone without GPS can be tracked and traced. Old school way called triangulation. You still can be tracked. GPS just makes it easier. I have a blackberry for work. I did not want one, trust me. I am a tech kind of guy (sysadmin job) but some forms of tech I just don't want or need. This thing has GPS on it, so I can be tracked. But this is what I got. Try to find a phone that is sold today that does NOT have GPS. You are being tracked by the phone company now and not your employer. Quote
Progressive Tory Posted February 12, 2009 Author Report Posted February 12, 2009 Try to find a phone that is sold today that does NOT have GPS. You are being tracked by the phone company now and not your employer. But doesn't tracking you down using the phone company require contact with the phone company? Constantly watching a screen to keep tabs on employees seems like a violation of privacy. How far are we willing to allow ourselves to be micro-managed? I read '1984' when I was in highschool, never really believing that it would, or could ever be a reality. Trust is obviously the issue, but then some bosses just like the control. Quote "For all our modesty and self-deprecation, we’re a people who dream great dreams. And then roll up our sleeves and turn them into realities." - Michael Ignatieff "I would not want the Prime Minister to think that he could simply fail in the House of Commons as a route to another General Election. That's not the way our system works." Stephen Harper.
eyeball Posted February 12, 2009 Report Posted February 12, 2009 But doesn't tracking you down using the phone company require contact with the phone company? Constantly watching a screen to keep tabs on employees seems like a violation of privacy. How far are we willing to allow ourselves to be micro-managed?I read '1984' when I was in highschool, never really believing that it would, or could ever be a reality. Trust is obviously the issue, but then some bosses just like the control. The trick is to monitor the monitors. In addition to my position being tracked by GPS the government also records what I'm doing with a camera. I'm all for being monitored actually, it lets me prove that I can be trusted. I think we should use Google to track the position of registered lobbyists and government officials so when these come within close proximity of one another anyone who's interests might be adversely affected by their meeting would be warned. The issue is actually the absence of trust. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
bill_barilko Posted February 12, 2009 Report Posted February 12, 2009 There are ways around everything....... Quote
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