Frost & Sullivan Expands into Industrial Sectors Driven by Advanced Sensors and SW
High capital costs and limited support for existing platforms are obstacles.

The development of industrial wearable technology is accelerating.

Industrial wearables are receiving increasing attention as the Internet of Things emerges and workers demand real-time data, monitoring, and tracking. Devices such as hats, goggles, and wrist-worn devices with advanced sensors, voice recognition technology, visual assistance, and touch support ensure user safety and facilitate data access.

Frost & Sullivan's Wearable Technologies for Industrial Applications report, published by Frost & Sullivan, explores key wearable technologies and market players across applications such as manufacturing shop floor and product assembly, quality assurance, product pick-up and move, and delivery scheduling.

“Technologists are designing wearable devices that are lightweight, portable, and easy to handle, along with longer battery life and advanced sensor technologies to improve ergonomics and reduce fatigue-related issues,” said Frost & Sullivan TechVision Research Analyst Ranjana Lakshmi Venkatesh Kumar. “The trend toward miniaturization and advancements in materials will give rise to wearable devices with tiny sensors and electronic components that can become part of the human body.”

The scope of wearable devices is rapidly expanding, but high capital costs and limited support from existing platforms are hindering their adoption for industrial use. Companies are also concerned about the technological capabilities to seamlessly integrate them into existing workflows. Many technology developers may not even have access to the technology required to incorporate ergonomics and user experience into their product designs.

“The wearables market is expected to see some very disruptive developments over the next two to five years,” said Kuma. “More digitalization will transform current industries into smart industries with HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces) that connect internal users and external customers to supply chain processes and improve productivity, user awareness, and work environments.”

Wearable devices currently in use or being evaluated in the industry include smartwatches, activity or health trackers (fitness bands), wearable mobile cameras, smart glasses, and head-mounted displays with augmented reality (AR) capabilities. Other potential technologies include ring sensors for controlling the environment, electronic skin wearables for display, and headbands that track brain activity for calmness and focus.

Some of the more notable companies in the wearable tech space for industrial applications include Epson, ODG, and OptAlert. Epson (UK) offers lightweight smart glasses with a stunning OLED display. The device has a camera that projects secondary AR images. Their advanced sensors and processors read the user’s environment and provide appropriate recommendations. ODG (Osterhout Design Group, USA) smart glasses are mobile computers with two stereoscopic HD displays that run at 80 frames per second with a 40-degree field of view. These smart glasses are designed for industrial and medical use. OptAlert (Australia) has developed a fatigue management device that detects a user’s drowsiness based on real-time eye movements. They feature unique Bluetooth features with multiple layers of protection to ensure device safety.