[ale] Paranoia (was Re: [ale] OT: pc cameras and linux)

[Geoffrey]

John Wells wrote:
> lol.  Joe, my plan is to take away every argument my employer comes up
> with to say no to telecommuting.  I don't expect the whole camera thing
> to last, but it was one the things "they" mentioned in a meeting we held
> about it.  They're concerned about certain employees not working when at
> home.  I would tell them that those same employees don't do anything at
> *work* either, but they'll find out eventually ;-)

Some suggestions from someone who has been successful at this for a while.

Up front show them you're not afraid to be reached.  I provided my work 
phone, home phone and cell phone.

Be agressive about answering the phone and returning calls.

Be 'heard' on conference calls, even if you don't really have anything 
to add, let them know you're there, either by vocal agreement to 
suggestions and/or comments.

Be up front and open about your schedule.  If you're going to 'leave the 
office for lunch' and that's not your ordinary approach, send an email. 
  Any derivation from your normal schedule should be announced via email 
or voice mail.  Email is better as you have documented proof, and it's 
easier to send one email to a lot of folks then to make multiple phone 
calls.

Don't be afraid to answer the phone when you're eating lunch or 
something.  Once folks get that comfort level with knowing they can get 
to you, you can let calls to go to voicemail.

Keep your voicemail updated.  If you're going to take a day off or even 
1/2 a day, note it on your message.  If you're going to take an extended 
lunch or go to a doctor appointment, send email or update your voicemail 
to reflect that.

> 
> John
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, 2002-08-15 at 23:38, Joseph A Knapka wrote:
> 
>>John Wells wrote:
>>
>>>Since the MSACS at KSU is pretty close to fully web-based, I need a web
>>>cam that can do color video at a reasonable price.  This just gives the
>>>professors a way to see my expressions of wonder and confusion. I'm also
>>>trying to turn my employer on to telecommuting, and one of the
>>>trust-builders I've offered is to tune a web cam on me while at work.
>>>Paranoia is rampant -- "If I can't see you, you're not working damnit!"
>>>;).
>>
>>Ugh. I just can't understand that attitude, especially for
>>software-type jobs. If I sat staring at a CRT eight solid
>>hours a day, I would go completely insane. If I can't understand
>>why the code isn't working, I don't sit there typing madly at
>>it in an attempt to emulate the hundred monkeys - I might go for
>>a walk and think it over, or whatever. Doesn't mean I'm
>>failing to "add value". IMO one of the major advantages of
>>telecommuting for employers and employees alike is that
>>lower stress levels (from not having to deal with rush hour,
>>not having people looking over your shoulder all the time,
>>etc) can make a person *more* productive.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>-- Joe
>>
>>
>>>Which mustek camera do you have?  Do you *have* to use a capture card
>>>with it?  They list a usb cam on their site.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>John
>>>
>>>On Thu, 2002-08-15 at 21:18, Geoffrey wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>John Wells wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Can anyone recommend a good, cheap pc camera that works under linux?
>>>>
>>>>You might need to define pc camera.  I've got a couple set up.
>>>>
>>>>I've got   a pci captivator capture card, has rca input. I've got a
>>>>mustek color camera on it, works great.  I got the card for about $20
>>>>and the camera for about $20.  I've got two of these cameras, the second
>>>>is connected to the s-video on my wintv card.  Works very well as well.
>>>>  Works meaning I can capture stills just find and motion is fluid when
>>>>viewed under X.
>>>>
>>>>I've also got a b/w motorola camera that I've used with the above
>>>>capture cards.  The image is a bit grainy, but it's designed for
>>>>security type stuff, and has a very nice 60' cable.
>>>>
>>>>All three of the above cameras have audio as well, but I've never taken
>>>>advantage of it or even tried using it.
>>>>
>>>>I've also got a Logitech express which is usb.  It works, but the image
>>>>is limited to two resolutions.  Motion is poor, I don't know what the
>>>>fps is but it's poor.  Capture works okay, but the images are not that
>>>>good.  With this driver loaded it hits the cpu for about 80%.
>>>>
>>>>The capture cards and cameras noted above have virtually no impact on
>>>>the cpu.  I have run motion, which is a motion detecting software with
>>>>my capture card/camera setups and it works very well.  It's quite cpu
>>>>intensive as well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>John
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>---
>>>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be
>>>>>sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Until later: Geoffrey         esoteric at 3times25.net
>>>>
>>>>I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
>>>>to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?
>>>>
>>>
>>>---
>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be
>>>sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>
>>-- 
>> "I'd rather chew my leg off than maintain Java code, which
>> sucks, 'cause I have a lot of Java code to maintain and the
>> leg surgery is starting to get expensive." - J. Knapka
>>
>>---
>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
>>sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---
> This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
> See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
> sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
> 
> 


-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?


---
This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
sent to listmaster at ale dot org.