No one can deny the growing popularity of wearable, connected devices that monitor vital signs, track activities and turn that data into actionable information to enhance or adjust performance. Modern wearables truly personify the Internet of Things and bring consumers and businesses closer to a world where computing is ubiquitous and data can be monitored and acted upon in real time.
So how can enterprises take advantage of this opportunity? Here are four wearable technology trends that enterprises can leverage today to enhance employee health, safety and productivity.
Fitness Trackers — These smart devices have evolved from basic pedometers to smarter, arguably fashionable, devices that measure heart rate, sleep patterns and other health-related data. Fitness trackers attract employees that are eager to monitor their progress toward personal goals, such as weight loss.
Enterprises that want to control healthcare costs while encouraging employees to lead healthier lives are gifting fitness trackers as employee perks, or as a component of Health & Wellness programs. Some companies are even offering the device as incentives-tracking tools that employees can use to earn lower co-pays or deductibles
Smart Watches — According to Intelligence Business Insider, smart watches will account for 59 percent of total wearable device shipments this year, and that figure is projected to increase to more 70 percent by 2019. As the application market for watch applications continues to expand, enterprise-specific programs will proliferate much like they did for smartphones over the past seven years.
A major cloud-based customer relationship management provider recently released a smart watch app that offers employees instant access to real-time sales and marketing analytics, as well as service notifications. The app features two-factor authentication to help protect that data.
Heads-up Displays (HUD) — HUD technology (also known as Smart Glasses) is no longer just for jet fighters. These transparent displays allow the user to access information/data without breaking eye contact with what they are working on. This technology makes sense for warehouse or shipping employees that require both hands to pick and scan products from shelves. That promotes faster pick up times and quicker turnaround on purchases.
This technology can also be used by doctors and surgeons, freeing up both hands while treating patients, as well as utilities workers that need to access wiring schematics while on a pole. Basically, any industry that requires a “third-hand” can benefit from this type of solution.
A key driver for HUDs is cost reduction through “see what I see” scenarios. One reason they are gaining traction today is because they enable on-site workers to be instructed remotely, saving time and money.
Intelligent Clothing or “Smart Garments” — Another wearable that is gaining traction is intelligent clothing or smart garments. Similar to fitness trackers, smart clothing can cover more surface area of a person’s body, which means that the data collected may be more accurate and offer a more holistic view of the user’s vitals. Smart garments can be used to track movement, heart rate, location, breathing or how fast the user is moving.
The use-cases for this technology are plentiful. Consider the ability to monitor the critical vitals of workers in remote locations, such as mines and off-shore drilling sites. These high-tech garments can capture data pertaining to body heat, sweat and other stress factors to track the safety and effectiveness of workers. This technology can also be used by emergency personal, police (body cameras) and firefighters that are in rescue situations to track vitals in real time and monitor their safety.
These are just a few of the many wearable technologies currently (or soon to be) available to consumers and enterprises. As wearable technology grows in popularity, enterprises that are early adopters will gain an advantage over the competition helping their workforces become more productive, healthier and safer.
Read “State of the Market: The Internet of Things (IoT) 2015” to find out how enterprise organizations are obtaining tangible business benefits using IoT technologies.
Visit Verizon's Machine-to-Machine solutions center to discover how the Internet of Things is creating new opportunities for enterprise organizations.
