Anyone in the modern world could tell you how much technology is evolving. Each year the evolution of smart hardware or integrated tech grows, intertwining itself further into our daily lives. Wearables, as they’re referred to, are one such example of this integration. You’ve probably seen examples already with renewed emphasis on gadgets like smart watches, or Google’s Glass, a set of “smart” eyewear. While these gizmos might seem like a passing fad, they could have more impact than first realized, especially in the job market. More specifically, they could have applications in general manufacturing.
Traditionally, technology has been mainly static on the factory floor. From security cameras to computer installations, there wasn’t much mobility. Wearables present the opportunity to change this in an obvious way, which could lead to a sharp increase in productivity. A worker with a wearable, let’s say with a functioning eye piece, would get information on the go. That information might relate to anything, such as incoming shipments, data about orders, maintenance tasks, and so on. This is opposed to someone having to alert the worker in person, or having to receive this information from a stationary device.
Even security gets better with wearables. Currently, body and head cameras are a popular choice for activities outside of work, but in a business, the applications can be applied to safety. Management can monitor things along with an employee using a security wearable, ensuring proper practices are being carried out. This reduces blind spots you would have with regular, fixed camera locations, alleviating issues like possible theft or identifying workers not practicing proper code.
Maintenance and upkeep also become far more efficient, should wearables receive mass adoption. Issues related to hardware can slow down any company, especially when it takes time to alert the appropriate parties. But, a wearable in the industry allows maintenance to have a portable source of information which alerts them to new issues, as well as plugging into relevant hardware to see what the issue is.
Since information is key to moving forward, the rapidity at which employees can receive it through wearables means productivity increases. In manufacturing especially, which is reliant on deadlines, workers can address new tasks or problems almost instantly, along with a connected web of data that gets them solutions quick. For a business, this reduces work slowdown, cuts on costs, and means an increase to their profit margin.
It all sounds amazing thus far, though the question remains if the industry will take to it. For now, in order for wearables to move beyond general public use, they must be portable, efficient, and comfortable. Their durability and ease of use will determine whether or not a corporation can fully utilize them, especially considering there is some investment risk with a need to adopt a new system. Still, with how hard big companies like Google are pressing their own hardware, it’s likely we’ll start seeing wearables in business over the course of a few years.
