Chapter 5 IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies 183 INTERACTIVE SESSION: TECHNOLOGY Wearable Computers Change How We Work It looks like wearable computing is taking off. Smart- customers to use analytics data delivered to their watches, smart glasses, smart ID badges, and activ- smartwatches to view performance metrics, uncover ity trackers promise to change how we go about new insights, and take action with dashboards. each day and the way we do our jobs. According to Users will also be able to query via Voice Search an April 2015 report surveying 2,400 U.S. CIOs by to access a report, view a dashboard, or find other IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology, 81 percent information. expect wearable computing devices such as watches Global logistics company DHL worked with Ricoh, and glasses to become common workplace tools. the imaging and electronics company, and Ubimax, Doctors and nurses are using smart eyewear for a wearable computing services and solutions com- hands-free access to patients' medical records. Oil rig pany, to implement "vision picking" in its warehouse workers sport smart helmets to connect with land- operations. Location graphics are displayed on smart- based experts, who can view their work remotely glasses guiding staffers through the warehouse to and communicate instructions. Warehouse managers both speed the process of finding items and reduce are able to capture real-time performance data using errors. The company says the technology delivered a a smartwatch to better manage distribution and ful- 25 percent increase in efficiency. fillment operations. Wearable computing devices Right now, vision picking gives workers locational improve productivity by delivering information to information about the items they need to retrieve workers without requiring them to interrupt their and allows them to automatically scan retrieved tasks, which in turn empowers employees to make items. Future enhancements will enable the system more informed decisions more quickly. to plot optimal routes through the warehouse, pro- Although primarily consumer devices, smart- vide pictures of items to be retrieved (a key aid in watches are being used for business. The Apple case an item has been misplaced on the warehouse Watch, for example, has a number of features to shelves), and instruct workers on loading carts and make employees more productive. It can take phone pallets more efficiently. calls and accept voice commands. It will display an Southern Co., an Atlanta-based energy company, important message, e-mail, or calendar appointment is experimenting with several different wearables in on your wrist. Instead of buzzing loudly and with its power plants and its power distribution and trans- every e-mail, text message, and calendar alert you mission pipeline. Southern recently deployed both receive, the watch uses subtle, discreet vibrations head-mounted and wrist-mounted computers and that won't be a distraction in the middle of a meet- performed several "proofs of concept" with Google ing. There are Apple Watch versions of Evernote Glass, Apple Watch, and the Moto 360 Android Wear (note taking), PowerPoint (electronic presentations), device. The proofs of concept focused on enhance and Invoice2go, which will automatically prompt you ing plant workers' ability to follow documented to start logging your work time as soon as you arrive procedures more accurately and to document adher- at a job site, send basic invoices, and receive alerts ence to those procedures. The company also piloted when they're paid. Bluetooth video cameras worn on the head for docu- Salesforce.com has developed several enterprise menting work processes and for videoconferencing applications for the Apple Watch. Salesforcel for between field personnel and central office personnel. Apple Watch delivers instant notifications to sales- Southern Co. now uses head-worn cameras in some people, service agents, and other business users to plants and field locations. help speed up their work. For example, sales manag- At Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, ers can receive a discount approval request and take guests are issued a MagicBand, a radio frequency action right from the watch. Customer service man- identification (RFID) wristband, which serves as agers can receive alerts if a critical case requires their hotel room key and park entrance ticket and immediate attention or call wait times are about to can be assigned a PIN and linked to a credit card to exceed thresholds. Digital marketers can be alerted make purchases. The wristband is also used to link when a marketing campaign surpasses a goal. Sales- photos to guest accounts and will soon connect to a force Analytics for Apple Watch enables Salesforce vacation-planning system. Staff are equipped withPART A Answer the following questions : (Please do not copy and paste from Internet) 1. Explain in detail Moore's Law on falling cost of chips and microprocessor performance. 2. Explain in detail the important standards in computing. Read the Interactive session on Technology on page 183: Wearable computers change how we work and answer the following: 3. What kinds of businesses are most likely to benet from wearable computers? 4. Select a business and describe how a wearable computing device could help that business improve operations or decision making