Wearable Technologies: How Will We Overcome Barriers to Enhance Worker Performance, Health, And Safety?

Abstract

Wearable technologies are changing the way that people interact with the world. Personal physical activity monitors are becoming ubiquitous in our society and are helping to advance user health and performance, yet, many workplaces have not broadly adopted the technologies beyond either low fidelity/complexity pedometer-based applications or, inversely, high fidelity/complexity lab- based evaluations. Considering adoption of wearable technologies in the workplace, some technology-related concerns include; (1) types of data needed to be captured (motion, muscle, temperature, etc.), (2) constraints of sensor design, such as human-sensor system integration (embedded in clothing versus strapped to person), ruggedness, form factor, or weight, and (3) types of data interpretation and feedback applications that exist to translate data into useful information (communication, trend mapping, situational awareness). From the research design perspective, there is difficulty in conducting studies capable of demonstrating a safety or productivity that supports employing wearable technology in the workplace. Difficulties include poor access to workplaces and varied worker populations to conduct research, lack of funding, and the need for extended time periods to demonstrate utility (often longer than the lifecycle of the technology in question). Considering the industry perspective, barriers to adopting wearable technologies include lack of convincing data, cost, and anticipation of reduced productivity, poor usability, and/or information overload. Additionally, employee privacy concerns and public policy implications may provide challenges. Another potential barrier may be that some practitioners, however, believe that innovative technologies may be adopted without rigorous testing. This may have short term success to garner interest but may create a barrier to adoption in the long term if the devices are found to have no near or mid- term efficacy. The overarching goal of the session will be to improve understanding of different perspectives as it relates to the use, barriers, and adoption of wearable technologies and generate discussion for overcoming such barriers to improve the process of research to practice to research (RtPtR). The panelists are from a variety of industry sectors and academia. The session will begin with a 5- minute introductory statement from each panelist; therefore, most of the session will be a discussion between panelists and audience.