AR wearables in the workplace to assist with health and safety
An article on AREA member Augmate’s website states that almost one-third of large companies surveyed by Willis Towers Watson in 2017 said that they handed out wearable devices to their employees.
As the future of deploying wearables to the workplace is already becoming a reality, wearables could be integral in everyday working life.
Dr Deirdre O’Shea, a lecturer at the Kemmy School of Business in University of Limerick, stated that wearables could be the key to maintaining a good posture – “[Workplace wearables] can aid in monitoring when employees need to move or change positions, which can help with common musculoskeletal issues as a result of sitting at a desk or computer. It is not a huge leap to think that in the future, wearable technology could be developed to help individuals ensure that they stay within safe levels for lifting or use correct posture.” The requirement for wearable health trackers at work could help keep more people in better health, and could even save lives in the long term. It can also boost staff wellness by addressing issues like fatigue and stress, by encouraging employees to exercise and take regular breaks.
The introduction of wearables will help increase the level of employee productivity, as wearables exponentially increase the ability to monitor their workers. With this level of monetization, employers must be clear with their transparency. They should be ready and willing to be clear about why they want to deploy workplace wearables, particularly if they are mandatory.