Wearable gadgets are the next big thing - 21% of UK workers already use them. It’s no surprise that businesses want in on the action, too. 

An experimental project, The Human Cloud at Work, looked into the impact that wearable technology has on employee productivity and processes.

The project randomly assigned 1 of 3 gadgets to participating workers, which they’d then wear for 3 weeks.

1) Lumo Back: to monitor posture
2) The NeuroSky: a headset that uses sensors to translate brain activity into action
3) GeneActiv: to track motion

The findings

- Overall productivity of workers wearing devices increased by 85%
- Job satisfaction of those kitted with wearable tech rose by 35%
- GeneActiv wearers: 50% reported enhanced functionality, 36% reported decreased functionality
- NeuroSky wearers: 46% reported enhanced functionality, 36% reported decreased functionality
- Lumo Back wearers: 36% reported enhanced functionality
- Wearable gadgets can create distinct employee profiles

Working with the data

The devices produce data that can be used to build behavioural and lifestyle profiles of employees.

Here is one such profile that was created:

“Chloe’s mid-sleep time is 3.45 am, which is in the later quartile and would suggest she is younger as mid-sleep time tends to get earlier with age. She’s an owl rather than a lark but not a party animal. Her sleep time is average (7.5 hours), as is her quality of sleep. She is generally active, but not a gym bunny, although she often has long sedentary periods in the office, which can be interpreted as a longer-term potential health risk. She has regular rise and bed times and has used the devices consistently, so is likely to be a conscientious individual. Given the fact that she is an owl, she is likely to enjoy a lie-in at the weekends. She has a short commute (it takes her less than 90 minutes to be at work from waking) and doesn’t have children.”

Prospects for the future

Dr Chris Brauer, lead researcher highlights how both employers and staff can use the data produced by devices.

By Tirebuck Recruitment, a team of Solihull recruiters

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