Re: Week10 � Topic #2 - Automate vs. Informate -- Comm 435 at GMU

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Date Posted: 13:29:52 04/04/04 Sun
Author: James Wigington
Subject: Re: Week10 � Topic #2 - Automate vs. Informate
In reply to: Mohamed 's message, "Re: Week10 � Topic #2 - Automate vs. Informate" on 09:49:43 04/02/04 Fri

you raise some excellent points Mohamed. Along those lines, in terms of automated turning into imformate, look at the various bonus cards for the supermarkets such as Giant, Safeway, and CVS. In the old days, you got a flyer, cut out the store or manufacturers coupon (Somepeople religiously ran through the weekend sections of the washington post looking for coupons), you took them to the store, hand them over, the cashier manually keyed them in, and you got your discount. Now, you go in with a card, scan it, and you get the discount. Of course, this information is then SOLD or given to the individual manfacturers, who use the info to bombard you with e-mails or mailings (Depending upon how much info you gave them when you signed up) For thier products.

As far as the companies and employees and swiping cards, you are correct and bring a great point. But everything on a computer these days is automated and informated. Your last logon time, your password, the e-mails, and many office phones have timers on them (And if you think that's for your on personal info, your wrong, they track that too.)

>For my example I would like to talk about the 'punch
>card' or 'timestamp card' machines.
>
>In the old days, there was a machine that was
>automated to only stamp the time and date whenever a
>card was placed into its slot. This machine could not
>distinguish between the employees and had no way of
>producing a report of who checked in at what time. It
>had no reporting functionality.
>
>In today's world, the 'punch card' has evolved to an
>ID card and usually includes the employees photograph.
>The readers have also evolved and now infomate. When a
>user swipes their card against the reader, specific
>information is collected (and this information is
>usually individualized). Readers generate reports that
>identify employees as well as they time they checked
>in/out and the location. This report is often used by
>managers and departments to monitor employee
>productivity.
>
>The advantage of this evolution from automating to
>infomating is also the disadvantage. The advantage is
>obviously for the companies because now they can
>monitor all the movements of their employees. They can
>see how long an emoplyee is taking breaks and lunch
>(from the time they swipe out to the time they swipe
>in). They can see who comes in early and stays in
>late. If something is missing, they can pull up a
>report on who was in the office at that particular
>time in that specific location. The disadvantage of
>this is to the individual employee. There is no more
>privacy. Big Brother is literally watching your every
>move. People might feel as though they are being
>pushed to produce and not have time to unwind. They
>may also feel threatened and constantly look over
>their shoulders.
>
>The ironic thing is that most employees swipe their
>badges and think it is only used for security. I mean,
>this is why they have a reader on all doors right?
>Wrong! Companies can use this information for more
>than just monitoring security and employees need to be
>aware of that.

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