This document discusses how wearable technology can be used for asset management. It describes various types of wearable devices like smartglasses, smartwatches, and smart clothing. Benefits include monitoring users, providing remote guidance, and supporting lean operations by reducing waste. Challenges include connectivity, memory, battery life, and user acceptance. Potential use cases outlined are work order management, service restoration, and warehouse operations like receiving, picking, and cycle counting. Considerations when selecting wearables include wearability, screen size, functionality, and required additional devices.

1. ASSET MANAGEMENT
THROUGH WEARABLE
TECHNOLOGY
HOW AND WHERE WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED FOR ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THEIR USE
CHET JOHNSON
LEAD STRATEGIC BUSINESS CONSULTANT

2. WHAT IS WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
AND WHY CARE?
• Any electronic product that can be worn on the body, either
as an accessory or as part of material used in clothing.
• A major feature of wearable technology is its ability to
connect to the Internet
• Growth expected to triple this year from last
• Currently being used in the Healthcare, Fitness, Airline,
Warehousing, Logistics, Operations and Military industries
• CIO magazine devoted an entire special edition for its
discussion

3. WEARABLE PREDICTIONS
• Sales jump from 2014 ($22M) to 2018 ($135M)
• 14x 2013 sales in 2018
• Smartwatches >50% of sales in 2018
• 50% of sales to devices that enhance user experience in 2018
• 250M devices in use by 2018
• Gartner predicts that wearables could help personnel diagnose
and repair problems more quickly, saving up to $1 billion
annually
• PwC’s 2015 CEO survey, mobility is one of the top three
technology priorities

4. WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE ENTERPRISE?
PROVIDES INFORMATION…
• Monitor - the condition of the user
• Remote Guidance - an employee can show a problem via live video feed to an expert
• Instruct - the user in how to complete tasks
• Virtual Training - wearers are immersed into a training scenario without leaving their workstation
• Augmented Training - wearers are provided training while performing their work
• Navigation – devices can show forklift drivers the most efficient route to their next assignment, as
well as the location of other forklift trucks for collision avoidance
• Warehouse Picking – augmented reality glasses can highlight pick locations, the quantity to pick,
and an image of what they should be picking from that location

5. WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE ENTERPRISE?
DISRUPTIVE, IN A GOOD WAY…
Hands-free makes wearables disruptive to business
• Time savings; Field service 5%, Logistics 30-50%
• Mobility
• Information readily available
• Reduce walking distance
• Reduced transactional errors; Field service 17%, Logistics 20%

6. WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE ENTERPRISE?
SUPPORTS LEAN OPERATIONS…
All seven ‘wastes of lean operations’ can be positively effected through wearable technology
• Transport: moving material and goods that are not needed
• Inventory: consuming material that does not directly fulfil the need
• Motion: complicated or difficult motion that is not necessary
• Waiting: idle time created by other inefficiencies
• Over-Processing: performing more work than necessary to accomplish the task
• Over-production: production exceeds requirements of the task
• Defects: reduce errors in the task

7. WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE ENTERPRISE?
PERSONNEL SAFETY, A NEW FRONTIER…
• Chemical sensors
• Temperature sensors
• RTLS (Real Time Locating System)
• High voltage sensors
• Accident condition monitors (hard hats, safety vest, gloves, boots)
• Warn of impending danger
• Lifting sensors
• Human Biometrics

8. SMARTGLASSES: AUGMENTED VS VIRTUAL
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Virtual Reality
• User has no sense of normal reality and is isolated from the real world
• Cannot be used in an operational setting due to surroundings unawareness
• Can be extremely useful for training scenarios
Augmented Reality
• The blending of virtual reality with real life
• Provides additional information to users existing reality
• Provides the ability to interact with virtual contents in the real world
• Supplements user with information to aid in completing tasks
• Compatible with operational activities

9. WEARABLE CHALLENGES
• Connecting to your database… the software
• Memory
• CPU speed
• Battery life
• Comfort of wear… user acceptance

10. HARDWARE CONSIDERATIONS
• Operating systems
• Memory, Processor speed
• Battery life
• Connectivity options
• Network Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Cellular

11. TYPES OF WEARABLES
SMARTGLASSES…
Considerations
• Wearability
• User prescription needs
• Weight
• Eye fatigue
• Blind spots
• Distraction
• Screen size, limited real-estate
• Limited functionality
• Typically requires additional backend device for
connectivity

12. Considerations
• Wearability, weight
• Screen size
• Additional scanner device needed if
barcoding used
TYPES OF WEARABLES
WEARABLE COMPUTERS…

13. TYPES OF WEARABLES
SMARTWATCHES…
Considerations
• Wearability
• Screen size, limited real-estate
• Limited functionality
• Typically requires additional backend device for
connectivity
• Additional scanner needed if barcoding used

14. TYPES OF WEARABLES
HAND SCANNERS…
Considerations
• Requires base computer/phone/watch/glasses
and only serves as an input device
• Wearability

15. TYPES OF WEARABLES
SMARTCLOTHING…
Considerations
• Wearability
• User acceptance
• ‘Big Brother’ concerns
• HIPAA concerns
• Insurance concerns

16. USE CASES
WORK/ASSET MANAGEMENT…
• Work order review/updating
• Asset history
• Asset attributes review/updating
• Remote guidance (see what I see)
• Alerts (weather, communications, health)

17. USE CASES
SERVICE RESTORATION…
• Remote guidance (see what I see)
• Storm damage assessment
• Alerts (weather, communications, health)
• Real-time customer information

18. USE CASES
WAREHOUSING…
• Receiving
• Put-a-way
• Cycle counting
• Issuing (picking)
• Alerts (weather, communications, health)