Where
WEARABLES
Are Headed
Wearables are becoming popular accessories — an extension of our smart phones , but even smaller and more personal .
These small devices are most commonly found in the form of a wristwatch , bracelet , or a device on a shoe . They are becoming a mainstay of the consumer Internet of Things , with more than 21 million “ things ” sold last year alone . Wearables can track everything from simple health factors , like heartbeat and steps taken , to receiving an individual ’ s phone calls or displaying an app ’ s notifications .
Major players in the tech field are making significant investments and product releases to get ahead in the space . The original players , Fitbit and Jawbone , are not alone . Now Google , Apple , Samsung , and similar major developers are digging in to the next wave of wearables , most notably the Apple Watch . Will increased technology and more robust operating systems drive a higher adoption rate ? Only time will tell .
In the workspace
Just as the Bring Your Own Device movement demands businesses consider and adapt new policies about data and security , wearables in the workplace will raise many of the same issues . Keep these considerations in mind as wearables make their way into the hands of employees :
> Minimize uncertainty . There are so many unknowns about wearables and how information will be shared or potentially tracked . Be aware of new devices and the impact they could have on your IT policies .
> Be open to transformation . In time , wearables have the potential to boost productivity and performance in business .
> Keep the team ’ s interests at the forefront . Wearables — or other devices connected to the Internet of Things — can be used as tools for tracking performance . Consider these resources for evaluating efficiency and simultaneously boosting employee motivation .
What ’ s next for wearables ?
> On the cusp of breakthrough , wearables remain in the “ Blackberry age ” of development . While the chips and sensors that have made wearables a reality are cheaper and smaller , the devices still lack many attributes that will lead to greater adoption and innovation . Longer battery life , functioning without being in close proximity to a smartphone , and the ability to deliver tools that stand independent of smartphones will begin to distinguish wearables . Wearables are making their way into the business world , with applications tested on monitoring employee safety , for example , or transmitting data about productivity . Monitoring patient health throughout clinical trials could be streamlined with wearable technology in the healthcare space . These gadgets represent another wave of interconnected devices that have the potential to provide useful data about consumer , patient , and business behavior . Wearables are worth watching .
CONNECT TECHNOLOGY SUMMER 2015 // SNB . COM | 23