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Left to their own Devices? The rise of wearables in the workplace

Steven Richardson and Debra Mackinnon

Emerging trends in wearable technology include ergonomic sensors for occupational health and safety, biometric sensors for professional athletes, augmented reality headsets for shipping and receiving, and smart ID.However, very little is known about the variety of uses for these technologies in workplaces, their prospects, and the extent to which they fall under existing privacy regimes (i.e.,PIPEDA).This OPC-funded project aims to raise awareness about the potential privacy issues associated with wearables by examining the practices and information that arise from their use in Canadian workplaces.Our presentation will highlight findings from this multiphase study exploring the opportunities and enthusiasm for wearables in the workplace. We will provide current examples of wearable implications and applications in Canadian workplaces; current high-interest use-cases in the enterprise;and summarize our assessment and recommendations for the wearable future of privacy.

Steven Richardson is a PhD Candidate Sociology Department.His doctoral research examines the forces shaping the market, development and use of wearable technologies for industrial/enterprise applications.

Debra Mackinnon is a PhD Candidate Sociology Department.Her doctoral research focuses on urban governance and the creation of public-private policing technologies in Canadian Business Improvement Areas.