Over the past few years the number of wearable devices entering the marketplace has risen tremendously.  Whilst many of these have been involved in various aspects of health and wellbeing, one of the more interesting trends has been the growth in productivity related devices.

For instance, Japanese company KeyValue launched a smart cushion device last year, that comes with inbuilt employee analytics.

The cushion can be fitted to a regular office chair, with the inside of the device containing a pressure sensor that can detect if and when the chair is being used.  This data is then sent to a computer via a sensor built into the cushion itself.

The aim of the device is to provide managers with insight into how often a chair is being used, with a potential for also encouraging employees to get up and exercise if they’ve been sedentary for too long.

Exercise now

The Vigo device attempts to achieve a similar thing, albeit via a different route.  It comes in the form of a wearable sensor that claims to be able to detect drowsiness, whilst also providing both the wearer (and your boss) with real time data on how alert (and therefore productive) you are.

It does this by monitoring your blinking patterns, with an algorithm then used to determine your level of alertness.  The device comes with a range of notifications to alert you if you’re becoming drowsy.

Tracking productivity

One of the latest wearable devices to hit the market is BetterWorks, which is a performance tracking device that offers managers the opportunity to monitor their entire workforce in realtime via a simple smartphone app (and of course eventually via devices such as the Apple watch).

The device has certain similarities to the various health related wearable devices, such as FitBit.  Instead of measuring your fitness however, the device is geared up to help measure your productivity at work.

To start the process, certain goals and targets will be identified by the employer and programed into the device for each employee.  These are then featured on the dashboard that’s visible via the device’s app, with a range of visual reports available to motivate and cajole employees.

The hope is that users (ie employees and managers) can track their progress, together with those of their colleagues, either from their own device or from the company intranet.

The belief is that the increased transparency levels and gamified interface will promote a higher level of involvement in ones work.  It also has a range of social features, with employees prompted to support and cheer on colleagues depending on whether they’re doing well or need some help.

You can find out more about the device via the video below.

There are certainly a growing number of devices coming onto the market that offer varying degrees of performance monitoring.  Whereas health related devices are generally only for use for you yourself however, these workplace based devices can have a big impact on your pay and promotional prospects.

Would you be happy to don one or is it Big Brother like?