One of the big things that came out of the CES 2014 technology show is wearable technology. We already are aware of wearable technology like Google Glass and various bracelets that do everything from working as your smartphone to measuring if your fat butt is moving enough. I think what CES did this year, though, was to stretch our imagination to what could wearable technology become.
Here’s my idea – work clothes that measure whether or not you’re on task or doing exactly what you should be doing.
Think about that for a second:
1. All employees must wear company issued ‘uniform’
2. Company issued uniform has integrated wearable fibers that not only measure movements, but also give you the exact time and location of said uniform, measure the health of the worker, measure the interactions with worker tools, etc. (Hello Big Brother!)
3. Your systems measure everything to the point you can tell which employee is the most productive, which employee takes too many bathroom breaks, which employee said they were going to deliver a load to a client but also decided to stop and have a refreshing adult beverage on the way.
4. Not only measuring performance and output, but also relaying exact ways that an employee can get better at their job. “Tim continues to drop his arm down to his side after every motion “X”, if Tim would keep his arm at a 45 degree angle he would get 14% more output” – now that is some serious specific feedback!
5. Wearable uniforms could also reduce workplace accidents. If the clothes new the operator was getting too clothes to a dangerous situation, or forgot to put down a safety gate, the clothes could shut down the system before an accident could happen. That’s really cool!
6. Wearable technology could measure the health of your workers, and deliver warning signs to HR. Have you ever had someone die of a heart attack at your place of business? I have. It sucks really, really bad to see a coworker die.
Some of this seems Star Wars, super techy, fantasy kinds of things, but it’s not. Technology is getting very close to begin doing some these things in the next years. While some will think of these things as intrusive to their privacy, I’m guessing companies and worker’s compensation insurance companies will not. You want this great job, with great pay and benefits, at our great company, please put on this company issues uniform.
It’s not about control. It’s about becoming better, faster. For all the training we do, nothing could get folks up to speed, with 100% compliance, faster than your shirt not allowing to continue to do a work around that is dangerous and delivers a less than quality product.
What do you think? Would you wear clothes that measured everything you do in your job?