Surreal Experience (2004-06-14)
KL conducted a neat experiment at work. Since I am completely clueless with computer stuff, I can't tell you the technical parts involved. Anyway he installed some program in the computer, this much I know. Last Friday he "rang" me from his office using the program. A window popped up on the screen with audible ringing tones. I clicked on the handset icon and was immediately hit with the noise in his office. The audio was so good that every sound was clear as a bell in the room, down to a sneeze.
I listened in to people's conversation and their laughs. I
could hear doors shutting and the beeping sound the security cards made
when inserted in the doors. I caught every exchange of words
between KL and his colleagues while instant messaging with him on the
things I just heard. A couple of people in the room had really
funny intonation when they spoke. Each of their sentence was
marked by a high-pitched trill in the middle. They were
hilarious.
The whole experience was surreal. It felt like I was in KL's office sitting right next to him and surrounded by his Japanese workmates. This is very interesting albeit ethically wrong. With today's internet advancement, eavesdropping is just a smart accomplice and a click away. Will I do this again? Nah, I don't feel like listening to people's private conversation. Not until my Japanese is good enough to know what they are actually talking about.
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