Companies will need to prepare themselves for these devices just as they did for smartphones.
Bring your own device (BYOD) programs in companies of all sizes have become very commonplace and now the introduction of wearable technology could be changing the nature of those strategies.
Although some forms, such as smartwatches, may not change too much, others could require altogether different rules.
The first step that companies will need to take when they are looking into allowing workers to use wearable technology on the job is mobile security. This comes both in the form of adequate protection against malware, viruses, and cyber attacks, as well as in the form of privacy of the company’s information. Smartwatches likely won’t offer too much problem in that second category, but augmented reality glasses such as Google Glass or Smart Specs, for example, could allow video recording and picture taking to occur while being completely undetectable to those around the wearer.
This means that companies will need to seriously consider privacy when allowing wearable technology.
At the same time, there are some wearables that could be seen as beneficial to a workplace environment. For example, the number of fitness and activity trackers that are currently available could help to encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles and to try to come closer to achieving their 10,000 steps every day.
Healthier workers mean that there will be fewer sick days required and health insurance claims won’t need to be made as frequently. This also helps people to remain more energized and enthusiastic about their work, creating a much more positive and enjoyable atmosphere overall.
Equally, there is the struggle that could come with actually providing workers with wearables in order to try to enhance productivity. Although it may seem like a good idea to spread these gadgets throughout the workplace, keep in mind that this will add one more thing to the requirements for IT departments that are likely very inexperienced with this tech, considering how new it is to the marketplace.
Companies will need to carefully think through their strategies when it comes to allowing wearable technology to be used by their workers.
These mobile devices are taking off among all of the major sports leagues.
One of the hottest topics at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference that included the attendance of the MLB, the NHL, the NBA, the NFL, and soccer, was wearable technology wand the way that this data will be able to be sued in each respective sport in order to build the capability for understanding the peak performance of athletes while tracking both their health and their safety.
If these fitness tracker devices weren’t considered a major industry before, they certainly are now!
A number of different types of wearable technology devices and uses were discussed when it came to using tech on the actual uniforms of the players. For instance, it is now possible to wear a tiny device of some form in or on a player’s uniform in order to be able to measure and track that athlete’s movement, heart rate, and overall explosiveness. Among the devices gaining a considerable amount of attention are those from Zebra Technologies International.
Fitness tracking wearable technology worked hard to gain notice from the teams and leagues at the conference.
In the case of Zebra Technologies, it had its own conference display to help it to be able to promote the services that it is able to provide to the various types of teams. That company is based in Illinois and took its first steps into the business of sports tech in late 2011. Even before the conference, it had already signed on two NFL clients and a number of teams from college football.
Their wearable fitness tech comes in the form of a simple sticker that adheres to the players themselves and that will measure the force that is put into each of that athlete’s activities. This helps to be able to create a better definition of the movements of the player, as well as of the strength of the hits that are taken. In essence, it is helpful in tracking the trauma that he or she may experience.
According to the vice president and general manager for location solutions at Zebra, Jill Stelfox, “In college, what’s really fascinating about using wearable technologies on players is there is a lot of emphasis on health and safety.” The wearable technology from the company helps to better understand the force that is experienced by any specific player.
