Big brother, little sister computer monitoring
Big brother, little sister computer monitoringComputer Monitoring, Forging Tools for the Future
Computer Monitoring is most often intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace, but with good intentions comes the opportunity for abuse by employers and employees alike. An example of both can be found in an article taken from The Futurist. Kristen Bell De Tienne's composition " Big Brother or Friendly Giant: Computer Monitoring in the 21st Century" is an exceptional observation as to what the future may hold for those people choosing to enter the technological field such as industry, commerce, medicine and science.
As Computer Monitoring increases there comes a concern for the types of effects it may have in the workplace. According to DeTienne, "By the end of the decade, as many as 30 million people may constantly be monitored in their jobs" (462). As computer systems become more sophisticated this number will drastically increase. As we enter this new age of technology we must remember that with more power comes more responsibility by employers and employees alike. Micheal J. Smith, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains that knowledge can be used as a weapon or as a tool (DeTienne 462).
For instance monitoring abuse can be found in the in the situation of airline agents. The agents discovered that by keeping customers on hold while finishing their work they could gain an extra 5-minute break (De Tienne 462). In the future these evasions of work will be stopped and for this reason "employee's who are accustomed to evading the monitoring system may no longer be able to tolerate it" (De Tienne 463). These types of employees may find they can no longer survive the added pressure of not being able to evade the system (DeTienne 463).
While monitoring can add pressure to some employees it can also be a relief to others. It is a relief to the employee because it provides information readily at hand. With the use of prompts, acting as reminders to workers of information needed is passed on efficiently allowing employees to do a better job. However, if prompts are used to tell an employee how much time has been wasted or how...
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