Manufacturing Subcommittee on Commerce

Disrupter Series Manufacturing Subcommittee on Commerce

Wearable technologies have come to represent a growing segment within that digital ecosystem of interconnected devices and their applications and platforms. The defining characteristic of wearables is that they offer consumers and businesses access to realtime, highly personalized information through products and devices that are physically worn by the user. Fitness tracking bands gather information about an individual's physical activity, and are intended to motivate users to improve their fitness, wellness, and health regimens. While inspiring better fitness habits is a positive use of wearable technology, the societal and economic benefits of these products extends far beyond those applications. The potential of wearable technology extends across multiple economic sectors and industries, such as energy, health care, transportation, retail, professional sports, manufacturing, education, and others. In manufacturing, for example, wearables can provide businesses with greater insight into the daily operations of their production practices, their workflows, their supply chain processes. The appeal of this technology is pervasive because of what it can offer in terms of operational efficiencies, public safety, improved performance, and cost savings for every business type and size.