NationStates Jolt Archive

J K ROWLING would be proud. Microsoft has completed trials of a Harry Potter-style tracking device that can monitor the movements of family members through their mobile phones.

The software giant’s Whereabouts Clock features a screen that shows the approximate location of an individual - such as “school”, “work” or “gym”.

Microsoft has just finished field trials of the system, which was installed in the homes of several families living near the company's research laboratories in Cambridge. It is now looking at how to market the product.

Read More >> (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article6256507.ece)

I think this will cause problems in many families and is interfering the privacy of people. Ok, the cynics between us well say 'no worries, you'll see only a blue screen'.

Erm... Isn't this like a number of pre-existing phones, only slightly less intrusive? Seeing as there are some phone equipped with GPS tracking that is incredibly exact. I think. I might be wrong.

This isn't really infringing on privacy as people have the option of using this application, as well as the ability to turn it off whenever they want.

Erm... Isn't this like a number of pre-existing phones, only slightly less intrusive? Seeing as there are some phone equipped with GPS tracking that is incredibly exact. I think. I might be wrong.

Maybe, but those special GPS/Cell Phones are not that cheap and only knew by the early adopters and not by the common people.

I assume that Microsoft will use its marketing power to push it at a rather low price.

Maybe, but those special GPS/Cell Phones are not that cheap and only knew by the early adopters and not by the common people.

I assume that Microsoft will use its marketing power to push it at a rather low price.

And what's so bad about that?

I mean, assuming that even Microsoft isn't rich enough to hire people to watch our every move. That's assuming they care.

This isn't really infringing on privacy as people have the option of using this application, as well as the ability to turn it off whenever they want.

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)

Stuck in an elevator. Underground bar. Inside a cinema (which usually carry jammers these days). Battery died. It's Microcrash, dur. Take your poison.

Stuck in an elevator. Underground bar. Inside a cinema (which usually carry jammers these days). Battery died. It's Microcrash, dur. Take your poison.

And after the 28th excuse, no wonderings will arise. Good luck :)

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)Or...you could just...not use it at all, aye?

"Are you so insecure that you have to know exactly where I am all the time? What kind of controlling psycho are you?"

I could definitely guilt-trip the "let's use this!" out of anyone that tried to talk me into using it.

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)

I'm guessing that someone who does suspicious things on a regular basis will not use this service, ever. If someone is in the middle of an affair and agrees to use this service, thus giving themselves the added trouble of having to find a regular excuse, then its a wonder that someone so incapable of realising this would make things difficult hasn't been caught already.

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)
Or, you could disable it altogether. No tracking then.

Meh.

Disable it if it bugs you.

Tracking is a fact of life.

Be it from facebook, myspace, google, using the check card, charge card, etc., etc.

Maybe, but those special GPS/Cell Phones are not that cheap and only knew by the early adopters and not by the common people.

Erm...no?

iPhones have GPS. The Nokia N96 has GPS, the Sony Ericsson C905 has GPS, Samsung and Blackerry also have GPS phones, and that's just off the top of my head.

I got a C905 for free when I renewed my contract. Free's pretty cheap.

And after the 28th excuse, no wonderings will arise. Good luck :)

Then disable it and say you need to be by yourself now and again and that if your SO really loves you, he/she/it would understand.

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)

If you have a mistress, I doubt you'd want to spend the money to purchase this system, as it has the potential to cost you a lot more (via divorce proceedings).

Stuck in an elevator. Underground bar. Inside a cinema (which usually carry jammers these days). Battery died. It's Microcrash, dur. Take your poison.

I have not heard of this before. Do you have a source?

I have not heard of this before. Do you have a source?

Part of the reason was because of the annoyance factor, but the around these parts, the primary reason for it came about because people were streaming movies in the theater off their handphones to someone who'd then burn DVD copies of it.

Here's a few bits on the jamming.

http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2006/03/15/movie-theater-jamming
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0324/p11s01-almo.html

J K ROWLING would be proud. Microsoft has completed trials of a Harry Potter-style tracking device that can monitor the movements of family members through their mobile phones.

Any newer cell phone has, in principle, similar functionality available to end users (OTOH any cell phone can be tracked in case of imminent danger).

For example, combined with map software you have GPS-like functionality with a completely normal GSM phone (eg. Nokia Maps (http://www.nokia.co.uk/explore-services/maps/download))


Sounds like M$ merely combined location and secondary map data with IM/Twitter-like service...


btw. Nokia has had a similar tracking project in preliminary testing also.

edit:
btw2. I wonder if there's a similar program fo' free available somewhere...

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)
If someone's already got a lover they're seeing regularly, chances are they've already thought of a myriad of excuses to explain why they're always out and unreachable on that particular day.

I don't bring my phone with me into the gym, so my g/f can only assume when she can't reach me that's where I am.
(Unlike some wankers who bring their sodding phones into the gym. If the call's that damn important, don't go to the bloody gym!)

Maybe, but those special GPS/Cell Phones are not that cheap and only knew by the early adopters and not by the common people.

I assume that Microsoft will use its marketing power to push it at a rather low price.

That's not true, there are several low-cost options:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2168366,00.asp

I was looking at a few because I need real time GPS tracking at times.

And after the 28th excuse, no wonderings will arise. Good luck :)

Who would be with a controlling asshole that would demand that of them to begin with?

You could probably disable this by making a tiny little tin foil hat for your phone.

You could probably disable this by making a tiny little tin foil hat for your phone.

My name is Svalbardania and I approve this message.

Then disable it and say you need to be by yourself now and again and that if your SO really loves you, he/she/it would understand.

I think though that this will probably be marketed at parents who want to know where their children are.

I think though that this will probably be marketed at parents who want to know where their children are.

Solution. Disable the system and tell the parents you were at the launch of the A-SAT missile that destroyed the GPS satellites for the region. Might not work against the more knowledgeable sort of parent, but most will be taken in. :p

Sure. If you are used to meet your lover or mistress every Wednesday evening then you'll have to explain to your partner why you are suddenly off the radar at that day... :)Or you could just be faithful to your spouse (or 'partner') in the first place...

or you could just be faithful to your spouse (or 'partner') in the first place...

BLASPHEMY! (damn Jolt's no all caps...)

Every cell phone ever can be tracked if it's on. Just watch like three episodes of NCIS or CSI or L&A or any other cop show ever.

There's a difference in some cell phone with some feature and this Microsoft device which is having just one main feature: tracking people.
So many people have already troubles when they try to send an ordinary sms, I'll be silent about installing and setting up software on their mobile.

And no a cheater will not buy this device, but maybe the partner of the cheater does.

What Peepelonia said (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14786509&postcount=24) makes sense. Odds are indeed high it will be bought by parents to check their children. I don't think the children gonna like it. :) We all were sometimes at locations parents didn't like. Now, we'll destroy that privilege for them.

So children have no right on privacy?

Besides, I think that companies are also interested in where you are during the office hours.

So children have no right on privacy?

Not in most places, no. When they're legal adults, sure, but until then, your parents pretty much own you.

And if the parents are paying for the phone, they have the right to put whatever the bloody fuck they want on it. So if you're under 18 and you want privacy, pay for your own phone and don't opt to install it.

Maybe, but those special GPS/Cell Phones are not that cheap and only knew by the early adopters and not by the common people.

I assume that Microsoft will use its marketing power to push it at a rather low price.
alot of phones nowdays are equiped with GPS locators. most don't even know it.

and then there's Onstar. which can also track your car.

Stuck in an elevator. Underground bar. Inside a cinema (which usually carry jammers these days). Battery died. It's Microcrash, dur. Take your poison.

sorry... but at the moment...
cellphone-jamming equipment is illegal in the US, even for agencies such as local police or fire departments

So begins the rise of the corporation state. All hail Bill Gates!!!!!

Stuck in an elevator. Underground bar. Inside a cinema (which usually carry jammers these days). Battery died. It's Microcrash, dur. Take your poison.

Which country are you in? Unless the laws have changed; I think it's still illegal t have a jammer?

sorry... but at the moment...

Active jammers are illegal under FCC rules. However, materials which inhibit, block, or otherwise "jam" cell phones and other communications devices are legal as long as they do not transmit an active signal over any non-public bandwidth.