The Boss's Big Eye in the Sky

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 17:50:24 -0500 (EST)
From: radev () umich edu
Subject: The Boss's Big Eye in the Sky
To: dave () farber net

Prof. Farber,

I thought that you might find this story interesting.

It shows that targeting drivers w/o E-Z Pass tags (re: your posting
from earlier today) is not the only attempt by Big Brother to use
electronic technology to track people down.

Drago

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/US/GPS_spies_workers_CSM_031223.html

The Boss's Big Eye
in the Sky
Companies Turn to Satellite Tracking Tech to Watch Workers

By Stacy A. Teicher

...

Dec. 23 -- The day before the first big snow of the season, the
question on many people's minds in Massachusetts wasn't how many
inches would fall, but how many snowplow drivers might sit idle.
Contractors were locked in a battle with the state highway
department. The sticking point: a new requirement that they take GPS
cell phones along on their routes.

The phones -- equipped to track location through a series of
satellites known as the Global Positioning System -- let highway staff
monitor plowers' time on the job and whether they are driving at the
optimal speed for laying down salt. Officials estimate the improved
efficiency will save about $1.7 million a year.

...

Cell phones equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite
tracking technology are helping companies and government services
remain efficient.

... 

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