Weasley Clock Ticks Closer to Becoming Reality
Products
Posted by: Edward
May 09, 2009, 09:03 PM
Those who desire a Muggle version of the Weasley family clock may not have much longer to wait for this type of technology to be available in their homes. The Times is reporting this evening that researchers at Microsoft have completed user trials for their Whereabouts Clock. As TLC reported back in 2007, the company had been testing this device which 'monitor[s] the movements of family
members through their mobile phones.' According to the article, the device 'works by identifying which cell of a mobile phone network
a family member is in at any given time. When users set up the Whereabouts
Clock they have to give each cell a name, such as “work” or “school”, by
downloading software onto their phone.' With this information, the clock would be able to assign a location to each person based on when they enter that cell. Researcher Richard Harper spoke of the aims of this device by saying:
“We want it to give enough information to be comforting without giving
so much that people feel they are being watched."
The Times goes on to note that Microsoft is looking at how to market the product, but makes no mention of its release. Janice Day, one of those who tested the clock, said that she "didn’t
like initially everyone knowing where I was - and I thought, Janice, you
hypocrite. But by the end I was actually quite happy about it."
179 Points
That’s an awesome idea. I was kinda waiting to see who would market this one first. It’s not that hard of a concept really, but i mean… microsoft. I’m sorry, but seriously? Seriously? I would love a clock like that though. As long as you can make cheeky whereabouts.
179 Points
That’s an awesome idea. I was kinda waiting to see who would market this one first. It’s not that hard of a concept really, but i mean… microsoft. I’m sorry, but seriously? Seriously? I would love a clock like that though. As long as you can make cheeky whereabouts.
65 Points
Hmmm…governments already have enough methods for spying on people. Do we really want to give them another one? Or, how about our bosses or, worse…stalkers. Since Microsoft is developing it, you know that it is going to be “hackable”. This is just plain creepy. Too much room for misuse and abuse IMHO.
102 Points
The article specifically says that it monitors location via your mobile phone and what cell of your network you’re in. So really, all you’d have to do to get off the radar is turn your phone off. Still, I think this falls more under “invasive” than “cool.”
Its a neat idea at first, but I don’t like personal tracking technology of any sort. There’s too much potential for it to turn into Big Brother technology. And personally, I find that kids grow into more successful and responsible adults when they’re given a measure of trust and responsibility as opposed to being constantly monitored.
77 Points
I think this is an interesting idea, but I would be a bit weary of how this kind of information can be misused, via a hacker. I’d be scared that someone could be stalking me at any time.
oh that’s amazing! i would so buy one! :)