Halley was the latest person to bring to my attention the issue of surfing the web, and in particular blogs, at the office. Although she assures us that she actually likes being naughty at the office, this is a semi-serious issue.
Years ago, like in the eighties years ago, I saw a video game - a vintage CGA submarine game called Silent Service if my memory serves - which incorporated a cool feature which was designed to pause your game and instantly replace the screen with a mock-up of a spreadsheet to fool any passing managers into thinking that you were hard at work. Once the coast was clear you could hit the key and resume your game.
Web Fire Escape is a blog equivalent of that feature, designed to either flip your browser to a company-safe site or, in a pitiful homage to Silent Service, a fake Excel spreadsheet (SuperCalc wouldn't fool anyone these days let's face it) or a phoney Word document. (Apple and other platform apps will follow if people can send me screen grabs). They may take a second or two to load first time, but once cached should come up pretty quickly.
The idea is that bloggers could/should put the Web Fire Escape Sticker
on their blog sidebars or somewhere in easy mouse reach, thus enabling their readers to beat a hasty retreat should their nefarious office surfing habits be compromised by an approaching colleage or manager. Of course if nobody takes it up then their readers will just have to get caught and fired, or something nasty like that, so this will only work if you do the right thing by your readers and put yourself in the role of a blog equivalent of a health and safety at work officer. If you follow. There are instructions for equipping weblogs with Fire Escapes, dead easy actually.
The complicated cookie/asp stuff was admirably catered for by Ben James, without whom this stupid idea would have stayed in my head. Which, when you come to think of it, might actually have been the best thing for it. Web Fire Escape - Escaped From Being Fired Today!
Years ago, like in the eighties years ago, I saw a video game - a vintage CGA submarine game called Silent Service if my memory serves - which incorporated a cool feature which was designed to pause your game and instantly replace the screen with a mock-up of a spreadsheet to fool any passing managers into thinking that you were hard at work. Once the coast was clear you could hit the key and resume your game.
Web Fire Escape is a blog equivalent of that feature, designed to either flip your browser to a company-safe site or, in a pitiful homage to Silent Service, a fake Excel spreadsheet (SuperCalc wouldn't fool anyone these days let's face it) or a phoney Word document. (Apple and other platform apps will follow if people can send me screen grabs). They may take a second or two to load first time, but once cached should come up pretty quickly.
The idea is that bloggers could/should put the Web Fire Escape Sticker
on their blog sidebars or somewhere in easy mouse reach, thus enabling their readers to beat a hasty retreat should their nefarious office surfing habits be compromised by an approaching colleage or manager. Of course if nobody takes it up then their readers will just have to get caught and fired, or something nasty like that, so this will only work if you do the right thing by your readers and put yourself in the role of a blog equivalent of a health and safety at work officer. If you follow. There are instructions for equipping weblogs with Fire Escapes, dead easy actually.The complicated cookie/asp stuff was admirably catered for by Ben James, without whom this stupid idea would have stayed in my head. Which, when you come to think of it, might actually have been the best thing for it. Web Fire Escape - Escaped From Being Fired Today!