The Internet-of-Things (IoT) market is expected to be worth $250 billion by 2020, and the market for wearables (a subset of IoT) is growing right along with it. This is great for tech junkies and Silicon Valley investors, but it is also good news for occupational-safety professionals. That is because the use of wearable technology can make workplace safety more efficient and give workers an extra level of protection.
A 2014 surveyfrom The Workforce Institute at Kronos found that a significant number of adults in many countries think that improving safety is the No. 1 factor that would make workers more likely to use wearable technology in the workplace. And it could benefit a variety of industries and occupations.
Wearables are items equipped with small electronic devices that capture data and give feedback about the wearer. They can be worn under, on top of, or attached to clothing, but, more and more, they are being integrated into the very structure of it.