Cube Privacy Via Gibberish 151
fury88 writes "CNN is running a story on a new device created by Herman Miller to help with lack of privacy in the cube life. It's apparently a device that will spit out gibberish when you are talking on the phone. You record a few words as instructed by the device and when you are having conversations that may be private, it will spit out sounds that sound like a clone of yourself all talking at once. Frankly I have to think this would be annoying after awhile. As if dealing with your project manager sitting next to you wasn't enough, now you get to hear several versions of your Project Manager talking at once. Talk about insanity!"
Yeah... (Score:5, Funny)
I can imagine them all saying that by default.
Re:Yeah... (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:Yeah... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Yeah... (Score:3, Funny)
I have Tourette's Syndrome, you #$@*& #@! @2©å#oe%, @!$%Ò £@f!* *&%(! &**$ &%$@# &%*!$ insensitive clod!
Re:Yeah... (Score:2)
Dilbert (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Dilbert (Score:4, Funny)
Cellphones (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cellphones (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Cellphones (Score:2)
I work in midtown Manhattan. I can go outside to talk to friends who won't care, but what about serious phone call?
Re:Cellphones (Score:2)
Too bad I don't have mod points, I'd mod you Insightful.
Re:Cellphones (Score:5, Funny)
When I hear someone in the next stall doing this, I make sure to fart extra loud. For fuck's sake, if you want to talk in private to your woman, go into one of the small meeting rooms and close the damn door. I doubt she wants to hear you or anyone else dropping a deuce.
Gibberish box (Score:2, Funny)
I want this thing now!
Re:Gibberish box (Score:1, Informative)
Old news (Score:5, Interesting)
Doubtful... (Score:1)
For masking conversation, they should play the sound of a roomful of people chattering all at once...
Re:Doubtful... (Score:5, Interesting)
The idea behind it isn't to stop people from listening in on private conversations, but rather to put people in a suitable mood. The latter tends to mean "willing to shop" in department stores, which I would guess is the main use of it.
Personally, I hate the idea behind this. Either it doesn't work, in which case it is annoying as hell, or it does work, in which case it's, if not unethical at least provocative (to me, YMMV).
But what I hate even more is that a lot of public places thought that playing "mood music" was a generally good idea without any other thought behind it. Stop polluting my ears now, please!
Also, Muzak has a website that is even more annoying than their sound pollution. Use at your own risk. (No, I won't provide a link. I hate them.)
Re:Doubtful... (Score:2)
"Muzak" is already well on its way to join the ranks of "thermos" and "zipper".
Re:Doubtful... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Old news (Score:2)
If it's just random gibberish made up from your own voice, it makes it harder for you to decipher the actual words spoken.
What I might think could possibly be a weakness, though, is the fairly limited base of gibberish it's taking into account (nam
Re:Old news (Score:3, Funny)
White Noise (Score:2)
from the electronic-gibbering-mouther dept (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:1)
Only for cubes? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Only for cubes? (Score:3, Funny)
"I'm sorry my cell is ringing, I'm a doctor of quantum physics and if I don't take this call the Universe could implode. Please excuse the intrusion into your day..."
Not only polite, but it puts other people at ease.
Re:Only for cubes? (Score:2, Funny)
Wow. With my cell phone provider, thats a bundled, always-on feature...
Fill Your Site with Gibberish (Score:5, Funny)
boa13 writes "There's a new device to help with lack of contents on your web site. It's apparently a device that will spit out dupes when you don't have time to properly read the stories submitted by your users. You post a story once and when you're running short of stuff to publish, it will spit out a rehash that sounds like it's new and fresh, but is actually quite stale, so that casual users will not notice that you don't do a proper job of moderating submitted stories. Frankly I have to think this would be annoying after awhile. As if dealing with improperly written and biased stories wasn't enough, now you get to research the linked articles to discover if it's that old AP story rehashed one more time. Talk about insanity!"
Re:Fill Your Site with Gibberish (Score:2)
"How to keep the teeming masses busy."
400 bucks?!? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:400 bucks?!? (Score:1)
preemptive strike (Score:1)
Re:400 bucks?!? (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't know what you consider to be important, but plenty of software engineers work in cubicles while management sits in comfy offices. I once was on a site where engineers who worked on classified information sat in an open room at a big round desk with computers... kind of like a campus computer lab. They certainly seemed to require privacy, but lacked it.
The simple fact of
Re:400 bucks?!? (Score:2)
This is about reinforcing the power of the management class over the technical class - nothing more.
Re:400 bucks?!? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm not sure it's feasible, but it'd be a cool idea.
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:2)
It would also work at home if you're furnace kicks in/
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:1)
Not true (Score:2)
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:5, Funny)
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:2)
But the only problem with rooms is that the wall tend to be hard to move, unlike cubicles.
At least if you use wood framing and the electrical wiring as it is here. AFAIK, I think in germany, they use very lightweight bricks for inside walls (they are like a cross between styrafoam and pumice in texture and weight - very light). And they put wiring in PVC-type pipes, even inside wiring, so it's relatively easy to move rooms around compared to wood framing. But nowhere near the ease of cu
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:2)
I can't remember ever seeing cube walls moved once they were installed, in the twenty years I've spent in and out of cubeland. This includes cubes in startups and Fortune 500 companies.
Often, cubes don't get moved even when one tenant moves out of the office and another moves in.
So while open office plans plus cubes provide great flexibility in theory, in practice, it rarely works out that way.
--Pat
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:5, Insightful)
Those are called "offices." Some time ago, when you got an office job with a large company, you were assigned one of these "offices" to do your work. They even had these other novel things called "doors" which were like small wall sections on hinges that could be swung in and out of the opening used to go into and out of the "office." Imagine, your own space where the walls extended from the floor all the way to the ceiling, and a door to boot! These were popular in times where one also would frequently work for the same company for a long time and get additional perks such as "health care" and this other neat thing called a "pension" where the company continued to pay part of your salary after you worked for them for thirty or so years and stopped working, called "retirement."
(Yes, that is sarcasm you smell)
Re:There are headphones that cancel noise (Score:3, Informative)
Unfeasible (Score:2)
If you want to talk privately (Score:5, Funny)
Actually do this anytime your talking on your mobile, confidential/private call or not, that way nobody will notice when you actually DO go out to talk privately
Also mastering the art of smoothly changing subjects when somebody walks in is very usefull:
You (on the phone): Tell me what you're wearing
She: I have my black silk negligee on
You: If i was there i would pull the straps, slowly let it fall down and then
*somebody walks in*
You:
Re:If you want to talk privately (Score:2)
Also mastering the art of smoothly changing subjects when somebody walks in is very usefull:
You (on the phone): Tell me what you're wearing
I think you shouldn't be calling those 900 numbers from work in the first place.
Re:If you want to talk privately (Score:1)
New? (Score:2)
Dupe (Score:5, Funny)
They should be shot... (Score:1)
Re:They should be shot... (Score:1)
(I think we can safely blame that view on the fact that a previous job was part-time duty manager at a local convenience store.)
Already Done with White Noise Generators (Score:5, Interesting)
Other departments sound so quiet after this one. I prefer it.
Re:Already Done with White Noise Generators (Score:2)
The funny thing is that I was having my hearing checked a few months ago and I mentioned it to the doctor. He was completely suprised at the idea and had never heard of it, even though it has been around for years.
For additional security and convienience... (Score:5, Funny)
8! 23! 42! 5432!
Re:For additional security and convienience... (Score:2)
Sounds like rubbish to me (Score:2, Interesting)
Let me get this right - if you play two conversations from the same person, people listening in will not be able to make head or tail of it?
All you would need to do is see the lips of the person talking and your brain would do the rest for you...
Unnecessary for anyone with a brain (Score:2)
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Smells like... (Score:1)
Oh, did I say that out-loud? Damn!
(Hey, at least you did your footwork and gave a link to prior article, instead of just bitching and moaning though!)
We need some sci-fi to come to fruition (Score:2)
The dermal subvocalization mike. Talking without making (audible) sound. What a blissful office that would make for.
Yes I remember... (Score:2)
Nowadays, I have to stand the meaningless and stupid conversations of the persons shouting at the phone in my office, imagine the *party* there will be when all off them start using these things.
Nope, there is really not a need for more noise at the office. Please just get your cellphone and go to the freaking toilet.
Wait a sec... (Score:4, Funny)
Wait a sec, so you're saying that this magical device will spit meaningless gibberish completely free of intellectual content, designed to drown out anyone making any sense of what I'm actually saying?
What's the big advance? Isn't that what managers are for?
Re:Wait a sec... (Score:2)
2nd Use (Score:2, Funny)
Cube Privacy Via Working (Score:1)
Similarly, work phone's for work stuff, private phone's for all those communications better kept 'out of earshot'.
This makes life a ahole lot easier without needing any slapstick digi-voice box.
Not annoying? (Score:4, Funny)
The effect is strange, though not as annoying as one would think.
Not so annoying, really? I'm somewhat skeptical...
Clone #1 : That sounds like a crazy idea.
Clone #2 : And that's $395!
Clone #3 : Isn't that old news?
Clone #4 : Geeeez...
Clone #2 : And that's $395!
Clone #4 : Geeeez...
Clone #3 : Isn't that old news?
Clone #1 : That sounds like a crazy idea.
Clone #3 : Isn't that old news?
Clone #4 : Geeeez...
Re:Not annoying? (Score:2)
Clone#1: How much?
Clone#2:How much can you spare?
Clone#1: As much as I need to?
Clone#2: How much is that?
Clone#1: You can download me for free!
Clone#2: No I don't think I can do it.
Clone#1: Are you serious? Where do you get your ideas?
Clone#2: Everything I need to know, I learned from Dr. Richard S. Wallace.
Clone#1: All things you need to know you learned from Dr Richard s Wallace?
Clone#2: But all things are not always me need to know me learned from Dr Ric
We already have it (Score:2)
It's not hardware based - they just went on a special training course. I think it had MBA in the title...
If you need and want privacy.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Gibberish box (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Nice (Score:1)
Re:Nice (Score:2)
cubicles are the most retarded invention known to the business world
Yes, I'm sure everyone would prefer an office over a cubicle. However, this is what life without cubicles [zap2it.com] would look like. Cheaper than installing cubicles, taking up less floorspace per person, and no privacy.Ah, so they finally discovered it! (Score:2)
Singularity education begets evil, for you were born as an opposite, between opposite sexes & the opposite Earth poles. You are educated as a stupid android slave to the evil Word Animal Singularity Brotherhood. Your analytical mind is lobotomized and you cannot think opposite of lies you are taught to think. You build the hell 'they' teach.
Dr.Gene Ray, Cubic and Wisest Human
You have opposite brains to think opposite, but Big Brother ic
Gibberish (Score:1)
Hindi is a good option.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Aapko achaa lagaa?
Usse mat Sql Server chuuo.
Tumhein chhot lag Visual Studio sakti hai.
Sone kaa samay ho stored procedure gayaa hai.
Hum humeshaa tumhaaraa parivaar rahenge out of memory exception.
Hum tumhein kabhei nahin email chodenge sourde safe.
Kyaa tumhein tatti karni hai?
Tumhein kahaan dard ho breakpoint rahaa hai?
We never really new if it was business related or id they were just chatting with their mates and throwing in a bit of tech lingo here and there.
Re:Hindi is a good option.. (Score:1)
Umm (Score:2)
Probably cheaper too.
White noise (Score:2)
That's what conference rooms are for (Score:2)
Cursing clones (Score:3, Funny)
this makes no sense (Score:1)
A more subtle solution (Score:2)
Really ugly link using /. link feature follows:
ahref=http://www.google.com/search?as_q=throat+mi c rophone&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as _oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as _occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=i magesrel=url2html-25324 [slashdot.org]http://www.google.com/searc h?as_q=throat+microphone&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+ Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq
Just a thought... (Score:5, Insightful)
But then my sympathy for people that expect the "right" to make or accept personal calls at work in the first place is somewhere in the vicinity of zero anyways.
If the conversation is work-related and still needs to be private, then one has a perfectly legitimate reason to have access to a telephone in a more private area than one's cubicle anyways. If the conversation isn't work related, one just has to bite the bullet and accept the fact that there is no reason why they should be afforded the luxury of increased privacy for such an activity. If they _REALLY_ need increased privacy for a personal call, they can ask their boss to see if he'll allow it. If personal calls are infrequent enough and the reason is legitimate, even if not work-related, they may permit it anyways.
Re:No, just thoughtless. (Score:2)
Actually, I don't think that's fine at all. When a person is off the clock, they are off the clock, and it better be *DAMN* important if someone's boss is going to interrupt their personal time with a business matter. For myself, _IF_ I have the spare time, I may even attend to it because that's the sort of guy I am, (it also makes it a whole lot easier to justify asking for a raise every now and then
Re: (Score:2)
Re:No, just thoughtless. (Score:2)
I don't recall disagreeing with this assertion. Perhaps you should try addressing what I said in the context that I said it next time.
Absolutely. That's a perfactly valid reason for a personal call, IMO, and how hard is it to ask one's boss if they can take a private call from their doctor?
Re: (Score:2)
$395??? (Score:2)
Please, this "technology" could be replicated by anyone with a cursory knowledge of
audio files and WinAmp.
And how is this different from when I turn up the music to make a phone call?
Because this is pre-recorded speech? Congratulations Herman, you've replaced "hip"
with "weird".
Source of Noise (Score:2)
Hearing aid users will love this (Score:2)
Simultaneous release of two devices (Score:2)
lmao is this for real? (Score:2)
If I had one of those, or even worse, a cow-orker had one I'd be laughing hystericaly if I heard it. For some reason, and this is appropriate for today (US Thanks Giving Day) I imagine it would sound like a Turkey farm, hundred of Turkeys all gobbling at once. Even worse would be if *everyone* had one! lmao
No thanks (Score:2)
Thanks, but I already have a girlfriend.
Created by Herman Miller and Applied Minds (Score:3, Informative)
http://wired.com/news/20050621_appliedminds.html?
Here's Herman Miller's press release for the device:
http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/SSA/News/Story/0,
--Pat
Re:Dupe (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Dupe (Score:1)
Or - a random example of even newer technology...? (Score:2)
It could be some experimental product - posting old junk on slashdot to divert attention from the fact that samzenpus is on IRC / chatting with office-mates / on the phone / ?