Tag: united kingdom

Wearable devices could serve as a distraction for many

Wearable technology is set to go mainstream in just a few short years, and what that means for people’s daily lives is not yet certain. Early adopters of devices like smart watches and augmented reality glasses have found that these products are quite entertaining, which may present a problem when it comes to productivity. Because wearable devices allow for a more seamless integration into the digital space, the constant availability of entertainment and digital social interaction may prove quite distracting for some.

A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom by Goldsmiths, University of London, found that those using wearable devices could boost productivity by 8%. The study was focused on a media company with some 120 employees and the devices these people used were specifically designed to improve productivity, concentration, and posture. The study suggests that some devices could have a positive impact on productivity, but it also found that wearable technology led to a 9% decrease in alertness among the media company’s employees. These people did report a higher level of job satisfaction, however.

Most devices are not designed with productivity in mind

Not all wearable devices are designed with productivity in mind. Most are developed as entertainment products and social networking tools. Augmented reality glasses, for instance, are typically used as a platform through which digital media is consumed. Smart watches are also used for similar purposes, though these devices have limited features when compared to smartphones and tablets. These devices could be used by students, for example, for a wide range of purposes, but will likely be most popular as entertainment tools. For many people, these devices could lead to a drastic decrease in productivity.

Wearable devices leading to a decrease in productivity is not an issue that is guaranteed to happen. Like smartphones and tablets, wearable devices tend to have access to mobile applications. Some of these applications are designed specifically with productivity in mind. These apps can help cut back on distraction by limiting access to the Internet or preventing certain digital content from being viewed for a specified amount of time.

Organization set to launch a new mobile service in the UK

The Payments Council, an organization comprised of financial institutions based in the United Kingdom, is set to launch a new mobile commerce service named Paym. The service is meant to provide consumers with a more secure way to make mobile payments. Security remains one of the most outstanding and problematic issues that faces the mobile space. Because mobile commerce has become so popular among consumers, it has also become a popular target for malicious groups that seek to exploit financial information.

Paym aims to make money transfers quick and easy

Paym has the backing of several prominent financial institutions due to their association with the Payments Council. The service is designed to allow consumers to send money directly to a bank account as quickly as other forms of money transfer would work. The Payment Council notes that the service is linked to an overarching initiative in the United Kingdom that involves associated all bank accounts with a mobile device. Money transfers through Paym can be done through the use of a mobile number.

Collaboration may help companies avoid unnecessary competition in the mobile space

Competition in the mobile commerce sector is quite fierce, if somewhat in overabundance. Many startups are fighting one another to win the attention and support of consumers while large companies are doing the same. The Payments Council believes that collaboration in necessary in order for mobile payments to become mainstream. These collaborations could allow organizations to sidestep much of the competition that exists in the mobile space, but whether these collaborations can produce services that consumers are interested in has yet to be seen.

Paym may be able to lay some security concerns to rest

Paym is expected to be made available later this year. The service is currently undergoing a final stage of testing before it is officially released. Concerns regarding security remain high, however, but with the regulations that banks must adhere to, these concerns could be dispelled once the service is launched. Banks have long focused on financial security and are typically required to meet the security standards of whatever country they are operating in.