Newequipment 84 Innovations Black Smart Watch
Newequipment 84 Innovations Black Smart Watch
Newequipment 84 Innovations Black Smart Watch
Newequipment 84 Innovations Black Smart Watch
Newequipment 84 Innovations Black Smart Watch

Will Factories Benefit From Wearable Tech?

March 17, 2014
The first step to industrial wearable computing requires something a little simpler and a little more practical that the consumer products - a device that adds the functionality workers need without distracting them from the jobs the need to do.

The wearables market is expected to grow to a $1.5 billion industry this year and shipments of these devices should exceed 130 million in the next four years. There's good reason for this sudden boom –  these devices are designed to merge relevant, real-time data and information seamlessly into our lives, bringing us what we need when we need it without having to fumble in our pockets to find it.

From a certain angle, the factory seems like the ideal application of wearables. After all, a worker standing at a machine is far more in need of real time data than anyone at the gym or office. Furthermore, keeping his or her eyes on that machine and off the phone for that information is absolutely critical.

Real time data and real time insight fed to an operator who needs it could realistically (and significantly) impact the efficiency of the enter factory.

So it seems like a perfect application… almost.

The first step to industrial wearable computing requires something a little simpler and a little more practical that the consumer products – a device that adds the functionality workers need without distracting them from the jobs the need to do.

Read more about wearable technology at IndustryWeek.

IndustryWeek is an NED companion site within Penton’s Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.