According to research from Price Waterhouse Coopers, more than half of the employees studied would use a workplace smartwatch if employers used the information to improve employee well-being at work. However, these employees said they had concerns about privacy issues and their employers’ use of the data. But experts say the key is setting clear rules and boundaries about how any information is used.
Once those boundaries are set, the sky’s the limit. Wearable tech can help skyrocket productivity and streamline processes that once wasted valuable time. From everyday work at your desk to creating a 4-D virtual reality of your operations, wearable tech in the workplace is set to revolutionize the business world.
Noise-canceling headphones
Music has been proven to be an effective way to use the part of the brain that enables creative problem solving. You can easily listen to music while working with the aid of noise-canceling headphones that shut out background noise and nearby co-workers talking on the phone or trying to have a meeting. For example, Sony’s noise-canceling headphones come in a headband style and earbuds to customize comfort level to keep you productive and creative all day.
Google Glass
Google Glass didn’t enter the consumer mainstream as Google hoped, but it has made its way into factories, warehouses and logistics departments. The manufacturing blog Plex reports that Fisher & Co. is using Google Glass with a ring scanner for hands-free productivity.
There’s no need to navigate through menus and systems when Google Glass can pull up all the relevant information for different systems and machines. The future of logistics will provide wearable scanners and devices to record data while you focus on other responsibilities.
Fitness trackers
Employers already offer perks for healthy employees who regularly work out or give up unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking. These incentives help reduce health care costs and keep employees more productive at work. Fitness trackers, such as FitBits, help you see how many steps you’re taking and how you’re performing physically. These trackers also measure your lack of steps, so more movement can be added to the workday in the form of treadmill desks or walking meetings.
Other fitness devices are being developed to alert you when you’re straining while lifting a box, sitting too long in one position or when your health is in jeopardy.
Smart helmet
The DAQRI Smart Helmet is in its pilot phase with Fortune 100 partners, and results look promising. DAQRI can augment reality with 4-D technology and streamline operations and production processes in a variety of industries.
One case study included DAQRI being used in steel production to help provide data visualization and control-room-level data to workers on the shop floor. Travel time from production floor to control room was greatly reduced.
Smart mouse
Trade in your clunky mouse for Mycestro, a lightweight, wearable mouse. Mycestro makes it easy to work at your desk or at a treadmill desk. Use your wireless connection to hook up Mycestro with your computer or other device and enjoy a range of motion of up to 30 feet. Mycestro works like a 3-D mouse and can track your hand motion.
You can also use Mycestro in small spaces, such as on an airplane tray table. Wherever you use it, you’ll actually be more productive because your hand will no longer need to leave the keyboard to move the cursor.
Wearable tech is just starting to take off in businesses. Only time will tell how it will increase productivity and advance businesses in the future.
