Sunday, February 16, 2014

MIS Assignment #3 - GOOGLE AND APPLE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, MAYBE

Management information systems within an organization comprise of three key resources on which MIS focuses – people, information, and information technology

In this second case study, we will address how organizations are using technology to track the location of people.  In some instances, people don’t even know they are being tracked.

QUESTION 1
Location-based tracking is common to all smartphones, for good reason or bad.  The popular location-based service company Foursquare has an app so you can check in at various locations to receive discounts, become Mayor, and see who else might be there.  DealLeak, which aggregates deals from the likes of Groupon and Living Social, needs your location in order to offer local discounts on products and services to you.  How many location-based service apps do you have on your smartphone?  How often do you use them and why?

DISCUSSION
I am using Android smartphone by Samsung. As a result most of my application by Google play. Few of the most frequent location service I use are Google Maps and Waze. Both of the services help me to navigate my route and travelling with my car.

I am using it everyday to find the journey distance and how long it will take me to arrive at the destination.  This will help me to schedule and plan my travelling for an appointment.Besides, early notification of the traffic condition and live traffic update really help me a lot to avoid certain road.


QUESTION 2
Apple and Google defended their processes by stating that their privacy policies very clearly stated what information would be gathered, how that information would be used, and how and with whom that information might be shared.  When was the last time you read the privacy policy of any technology tool, such as a Web browser or app?  Do you think very many people actually read these?  Do the disclaimers in these privacy policies give the offering organization the right to do anything with your information?

DISCUSSION
I read it last week for an application installation inside my notebook when the company IT deploy an update for our new Email client.

I don't think many users by default read the full description of the Privacy Policy and End User agreement before we install application in our devices. They are interested to click, I agree at the checkbox of End-User License Agreement (EULA).

Yes, inside the privacy policies Google did mention the usage of the information they collect about user when they are using the Google services.

In this Google Privacy Policies [ http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/ ], it mention Google Privacy Policy  that explains:
  •       What information Google collect and why they collect it.
  •       How they use that information.
  •       The choices Goole offer, including how to access and update information.

To the end users they must be aware of this Privacy Information gathering and their potential usage. The need and important to spend time and reading the Agreement and Privacy statement.To the Organization, choices and notification to the customers is important so correct measurement and Data handling is taken care off.


QUESTION 3
What about location-based tracking in car systems like GM’s OnStar?  Those systems know the car’s location to give you driving directions and perhaps identify local restaurants or other venues.  Are you comfortable with this?  When was the last time you bought a paper map?  How much do you rely on your car’s GPS system?

DISCUSSION
Yes, many people are comfortable with the GPS systems in cars. Initially customers looking for the GPS system to provide security to track their Car if got stolen. Besides, it can help traveling and aid driver with the unfamiliar route to their destination.

The location awareness services will provide customers the list of shops and restaurant in certain location. Not to forget, the Petrol Station and als Emergency services like Police station and Hospital or clinics.

As a result, end user need to trade off their privacy information to the service providers and their partners to gain the extra services for additional benefits to users.


QUESTION 4
What about smartphone tracking for parents who want to know where their children are and where they’ve been?  Minors under the age of 18 have very few privacy rights, especially when it comes to parents’ knowledge of where they are.  Are parents going too far in wanting to know where their children are?  What are the benefits of such systems for parents?  For the children?  What does the term “helicopter parent” refer to?

DISCUSSION
Secondary school kids will see this as intrusion to their privacy. They prefer to be most of the time with their friends and do activity together. They feel independence and can take care of themselves.

Parents that always checking on the kids will be threat to the degree of the freedom they want.

The modern parents nowadays will look at the Tracking application as an additional safety assurance to their kids. Whether they are in the school then attend the tuition class or participate with the school extra co curricular activity. Parents will love and comfortable since they know whereabouts of their kids.

Helicopter parenting refers to "a style of parents who are over focused on their children," says Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D., director of the Center for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders near Detroit and author of Anxiety Disorders: The Go-To Guide. "They typically take too much responsibility for their children's experiences and, specifically, their successes or failures," Dr. Daitch says. [Source http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/what-is-helicopter-parenting/ ] The term "helicopter parent" was first used in Dr. Haim Ginott's 1969 book Parents & Teenagers by teens who said their parents would hover over them like a helicopter; the term became popular enough to become a dictionary entry in 2011.


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