The future (not actually that far off) sees computer systems that are powerful enough to map out the human face which is known as facial recognition, scanning it into a database that takes a full-360 degrees picture mapping the individual face into a digital fingerprint of sorts allowing no need for invasive security systems. Imagine walking towards your workplace which is studded with cameras that constantly takes pictures of your face and compares it to a digitized database of many other faces in the system. As you get to your terminal, you get immediate access (for the system has seen you as the rightful owner of the computer terminal) to all you stuff without having to physically go through invasive security systems (like the one seen on the sci-fi movie the Minority Report). In the movie, society has evolved into a centralized environment where there are security scanners tied into all major computer systems such as media advertising boards located in major city center’s. Advertising that is suited to one’s preferences and such other information are obtained on a person through retinal scanners that continuously scans one’s location and other information such as the case in the plot which has a rogue officer of the law being subject of much fuss. This gives an insight into the possible future of the human race and how much information technology play’s a part in that future world where nothing is secret and just about anything with the right access can get enough information about you. Hot Forest’s introduction of biometrics-technology based interface system (initially a mouse) that have embedded medical grade sensors that monitor blood pressure and other vital bodily functions to indicate the productivity of their staff based on baseline information collected as the system is implemented. Their system, ‘OPTIMAL OFFICE’ monitor’s the health of their employees through sensors (heart rate monitors) and software helping management create a less stressful workplace. This allows offices to monitor their employees productivity by monitoring their blood pressure which is a sure sign of stress or too much of it allowing better management and control.
The system works and begins to provide important information about an employee who uses the system for more than 2 hours allowing the collection and collation of vitals which are compared and rated according to standards set by the medical field as either healthy or hazardous to one’s health. Management is then alerted to whether they are under or over stressed based on these information allowing the conduction of adjustments or other health analysis tests. This is said to promote a better office for healthy people who work happily are more productive. Though many see the system as too invasive, it may offer an insight on what tomorrow would hold for us as technology become’s more of a necessity rather than an addition to the way we live day by day.