Enabling the Adoption of Wearable Computers in Enterprises - Results of Analyzing Influencing Factors and Challenges in the Industrial Sector

Wearable computers like smart glasses or smartwatches enable the use of information systems in application scenarios in which information technology has rarely been used until now. The reason for this is, that users are able to interact with the devices hands-free, e.g. by using voice commands. A hands-free use is in particular relevant for enterprises in the industrial sector, as industrial workers often need to perform tasks manually, e.g. in manufacturing or maintenance. However, the technology is currently not used widely in enterprises. Thus, the aim of our research is to identify influencing factors and related challenges of using wearable computers in order to analyze how its adoption can be increased. Based on an empirical interview study within the industrial sector, we identified 11 influencing factors and 25 related challenges which affect the adoption of wearable computers

Design Principles of Mobile Information Systems in the Digital Transformation of the Workplace - Utilization of Smartwatch-based Information Systems in the Corporate Context

During the last decades, smartwatches emerged as an innovative and promising technology and hit the consumer market due to the accessibility of affordable devices and predominant acceptance caused by the considerable similarity to common wristwatches. With the unique characteristics of permanent availability, unobtrusiveness, and hands-free operation, they can provide additional value in the corporate context. Thus, this thesis analyzes use cases for smartwatches in companies, elaborates on the design of smartwatch-based information systems, and covers the usability of smartwatch applications during the development of smartwatch-based information systems. It is composed of three research complexes. The first research complex focuses on the digital assistance of (mobile) employees who have to execute manual work and have been excluded so far from the benefits of the digitalization since they cannot operate hand-held devices. The objective is to design smartwatch-based information systems to support workflows in the corporate context, facilitate the daily work of numerous employees, and make processes more efficient for companies. During a design science research approach, smartwatch-based software artifacts are designed and evaluated in use cases of production, support, security service, as well as logistics, and a nascent design theory is proposed to complement theory according to mobile information system research. The evaluation shows that, on the one hand, smartwatches have enormous potential to assist employees with a fast and ubiquitous exchange of information, instant notifications, collaboration, and workflow guidance while they can be operated incidentally during manual work. On the other hand, the design of smartwatch-based information systems is a crucial factor for successful long-term deployment in companies, and especially limitations according to the small form-factor, general conditions, acceptance of the employees, and legal regulations have to be addressed appropriately. The second research complex addresses smartwatch-based information systems at the office workplace. This broadens and complements the view on the utilization of smartwatches in the corporate context in addition to the mobile context described in the first research complex. Though smartwatches are devices constructed for mobile use, the utilization in low mobile or stationary scenarios also has benefits due they exhibit the characteristic of a wearable computer and are directly connected to the employee’s body. Various sensors can perceive employee-, environment- and therefore context-related information and demand the employees’ attention with proactive notifications that are accompanied by a vibration. Thus, a smartwatch-based and gamified information system for health promotion at the office workplace is designed and evaluated. Research complex three provides a closer look at the topic of usability concerning applications running on smartwatches since it is a crucial factor during the development cycle. As a supporting element for the studies within the first and second research complex, a framework for the usability analysis of smartwatch applications is developed. For research, this thesis contributes a systemization of the state-of-the-art of smartwatch utilization in the corporate context, enabling and inhibiting influence factors of the smartwatch adoption in companies, and design principles as well as a nascent design theory for smartwatch-based information systems to support mobile employees executing manual work. For practice, this thesis contributes possible use cases for smartwatches in companies, assistance in decision-making for the introduction of smartwatch-based information systems in the corporate context with the Smartwatch Applicability Framework, situated implementations of a smartwatch-based information system for typical use cases, design recommendations for smartwatch-based information systems, an implementation of a smartwatch-based information system for the support of mobile employees executing manual work, and a usability-framework for smartwatches to automatically access usability of existing applications providing suggestions for usability improvement

Overcoming the Challenges of Big Data Analytics Adoption for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the Manufacturing Industry

Advanced manufacturing technologies that enable big data analytics can boost productivity, increase efficiency, and enhance innovation. However, small and medium sized factories face unique challenges when implementing that technology. Plant managers of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are often unsure of how to overcome those challenges in order to reap the benefits of big data analytics. This project examined the opportunities that have arisen due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0; how small and medium sized manufacturers in the United States can move from traditional methods of manufacturing to advanced manufacturing, and how the additional data generated can enhance decision-making, specifically for plant managers. An investigation of the factors affecting big data analytics adoption in manufacturing SMEs was conducted, and case studies were examined in order to identify the unique challenges that exist and provide recommendations. The results of the investigation suggest that production managers should prioritize a specific area to focus on, use a big data lifecycle management framework, seek help to build and secure their operation systems, train and encourage employees, and collaborate with others in the industry

Int J Ind Ergon

In occupational safety and health, big data and analytics show promise for the prediction and prevention of workplace injuries. Advances in computing power and analytical methods have allowed companies to reveal insights from the "big" data that previously would have gone undetected. Despite the promise, occupational safety has lagged behind other industries, such as supply chain management and healthcare, in terms of exploiting the potential of analytics and much of the data collected by organizations goes unanalyzed. The purpose of the present paper is to argue for the broader application of establishment-level safety analytics. This is accomplished by defining the terms, describing previous research, outlining the necessary components required, and describing knowledge gaps and future directions. The knowledge gaps and future directions for research in establishment-level analytics are categorized into readiness for analytics, analytics methods, technology integration, data culture, and impact of analytics.CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COLLABORATIVE SMARTWATCH APPLICATION SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES IN INDUSTRIAL WORKFLOWS

Due to new technological developments and the availability of affordable wearable devices like smartwatches, which recently hit the consumer market, employees in the corporate context can benefit from ubiquitous access to information. Especially in industrial production, there are complex and high involving workflows, which require the collaboration of multiple persons spread over different divisions. In such scenarios, fast and reliable communication is difficult and often disturbs work. Since smartwatches can be worn permanently on the body and the em-ployee has non-disruptive access to information without the use of hands, such devices offer big potential for seamless support and guidance within a service system. In this paper, we identify a representative problem composed of a quality assurance process with practical relevance and design and implement an information system based on smartwatches in a design science ap-proach. Since we infer meta-requirements for our system from the results of qualitative studies, the needs of employees are strongly considered and the developed software can be applied in a broad class of related problems. Finally, we evaluate the created meta-artifact in the identified scenario in order to obtain insights and knowledge about building information systems based on smartwatches for collaborative workflow support

Universidad inteligente: una visión de la adopción de la tecnología

Smart University is an emerging concept, strongly anchored to smart technologies and considered by different authors in the literature. Organizations, including universities, need to incorporate smart technologies to take advantage of their capabilities to transform their processes and drive them toward new organizational models. A Smart University focuses on improving its technological infrastructure for achieving its quality educational goals. This paper presents the integration of the key factors for adopting four smart technologies: Cloud Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things. This characterization and integration allow us to conclude on the need to align digital technologies with the organization's processes, requiring greater interaction with the company’s senior management.Universidad inteligente es un concepto emergente, fuertemente anclado a las tecnologías inteligentes, y considerado por diferentes autores en la literatura. Las organizaciones, incluidas las universidades, necesitan incorporar las tecnologías inteligentes para aprovechar las capacidades que proporcionan para transformar sus procesos e impulsarlas hacia nuevos modelos organizativos. Una universidad inteligente se centra en la mejora de su infraestructura tecnológica para lograr sus objetivos educativos de calidad. Este trabajo presenta la integración de los factores clave para la adopción de cuatro tecnologías inteligentes: Computación en la nube, Big Data, Inteligencia Artificial, e Internet de las Cosas. Esta caracterización e integración nos permite concluir sobre la necesidad de alineación de las tecnologías digitales con los procesos de la organización, exigiendo una mayor interacción con la alta dirección de la empresa

Integration of Smart Wearable Devices and Cloud Computing in the Kenyan Public Health Care System

The utilization of smart wearable devices and cloud computing in the Kenyan public health care system will facilitate real-time patient monitoring and management. The shortage of certified healthcare professionals and the limited access to quality specialized care for individuals in remote settings has prompted the adoption of wearable devices and cloud computing strategies in Kenya. However, there lacks a clear framework design of integrating the technologies in the public health sector. This article evaluates the current status of healthcare systems in Kenya. It also investigates the existing mobile health and cloud computing services in the country while evaluating the main legal concerns inherent to the utilization of the technologies. The document further outlines a framework design for a mobile application named GB Health. The application incorporates cloud computing and smart wearable devices in the Kenyan public health care system. The design will enhance workflow and patient outcomes in the sector. Keywords: Smart wearable devices, cloud computing, GB Health DOI: 10.7176/IKM/11-4-04 Publication date:June 30th 2021

Designing wearables for use in the workplace: the role of solution developers

Wearables (such as data glasses and smartwatches) are a particularly visible element of Industrie 4.0 applications. They aim at providing situation-specific information to workers, but at the same time they can also be used for surveillance and control because they generate data on the work process and sometimes even on movement patterns and vital data of the employees. Wearables technology is at an early stage of development, in which the interests and perspectives of relevant stakeholders, especially technology developers and the management, are of particular importance. This article explores the role of solution developers and their understanding of work processes in which wearables are to be used. It is based on expert interviews with solution developers, academic and company experts. The analysis shows an ambivalent understanding of work: On the one hand, it is characterized by the perception of workers as potential sources of error. It focuses on the optimization of individual workplaces and their ergonomics, while broader questions of work design and work organization are ignored. On the other hand, the technology developers see and discuss the potentials and dangers of wearables technologies with regard to individualization, data protection and control in a differentiated manner

An Analytic and Systemic View of the Digital Transformation of Healthcare

Industry 4.0 represents a digital revolution that is driven by technologies that blur the lines between the physical and digital worlds. Industry 4.0, the latest industrial revolution, is poised to have a profound impact on all aspects of society. In order to understand how the healthcare industry is being transformed by the convergence of the physical and digital realms, a systems perspective is taken in this study. Two research questions are addressed regarding the opportunities and interventions that can be provided by both analytical and systems conceptions of digital transformation. I use a systemic literature review approach to address the research questions. A sample of studies between 2000 and 2022 is analyzed. Existing studies mostly examine the effects of new digital technologies on healthcare providers. However, digital transformation also presents significant challenges, such as data privacy, ethical concerns related to AI-based automated decision-making, and equity issues related to e-health. Solutions to major challenges at both micro and macro levels can be derived from the existing theories and tools of systems thinking. For instance, systems thinking\u27s continuous learning and adaptation capabilities can be useful for healthcare organizations to develop the required digital capabilities. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of subsystems and stakeholders in systems thinking can be combined with digital twin technology to investigate the dynamic interactions among key stakeholders, leading to the development of new regulatory policies

A journey towards Industry 4.0 : the supporting role of socio-technical systems

Companies seek to improve their competitiveness and productivity through innovation in processes, products, and equipment. This innovation can be achieved via technologies that bring greater quality, flexibility, efficiency, control, and monitoring to their production. In this sense, the concept of a more intelligent, automated, and digital industry gained interest and culminated in Industry 4.0. Many companies view this industry evolution as capable of delivering immediate improvements and lowering production costs. However, only crediting the technology with gains in productivity, quality, and flexibility has brought frustrations, complexity, and reduced production in company processes. This is due to, among other things, the way Industry 4.0 technologies are understood, implemented, communicated, and used. Literature and empirical studies have shown that companies still lack the technological, cultural, and process maturity necessaries to obtain substantial gains with Industry 4.0, especially small and medium-sized companies. Focusing on this technology implementation process, this thesis aims to investigate how the socio-technical theory can bring improvements and gains in relation to the environment in which technologies such as IoT, big data, analytics, collaborative robots, and 3D printing are implemented. For that, this thesis aims to identify how the socio-technical aspects impact the implementation of Industry 4.0 and its contribution to improving the results with its implementation. The results demonstrate that socio-technical aspects are associated with higher levels of Industry 4.0 implementation as they serve as the basis for technologies to operate in a more organized environment, with workers trained and engaged in their use and with a clear and delimited strategy. Strategic aspects are the most impacting aspects of Industry 4.0 implementation and should be considered fundamental for companies adopting its technologies. The qualitative results highlight such importance and demonstrate how companies have made such a transition both through Industry 4.0 ecosystems, as well as seeking capabilities and knowledge through suppliers, consultancies, associations, and startups. Still, the results showed the importance of collecting, storing, and having the ability to use data for continuous improvement. Well-established lean maturity and the definition of a strategic and technological roadmap that guides the technology implementation process were also essential for the company to focus on a broader context of technologies to the detriment of ad-hoc implementations. Finally, the results also showed that although aspects of strategic definition bring important gains for implementing Industry 4.0, improvements related to workers, such as engagement, qualification, and training, can also bring productivity improvements. In this way, this thesis brings theoretical and empirical gains to a field of growing interest for the industry that demands high investments, impacting not only workers but various organizational, social, and technical aspects of the company. The results discussed here provide empirical evidence of the importance of a socio-technical vision based on more organized processes, a well-defined strategy, and trained, engaged, and participative workers in the transition to Industry 4.0, in contrast to the technocentric vision generally adopted by companies.Empresas buscam melhorar sua competitividade e produtividade através de inovações em processos, produtos e equipamentos. Tais inovações podem ser feitas através de tecnologias que tragam maior qualidade, flexibilidade, eficiência, controle e monitoramento a sua produção. Nesse sentido, o conceito de uma indústria mais inteligente, automatizada e digital ganhou força e culminou no que se denomina de Indústria 4.0. Muitas empresas visualizam essa evolução da indústria como capaz de entregar melhorias imediatas e diminuir custos de produção. No entanto, creditar somente à tecnologia ganhos de produtividade, qualidade e flexibilidade tem trazido frustrações, diminuição na produção e complexidade aos processos das empresas. Isso se deve, entre outras coisas, à forma como as tecnologias da Indústria 4.0 são entendidas, implementadas, comunicadas e usadas. Estudos empíricos têm demonstrado que as empresas ainda não possuem maturidade tecnológica, cultural e de processos para obter ganhos substanciais com a Indústria 4.0. Com foco nesse processo de implementação de tecnologia, esta tese visa estudar como a abordagem sistêmica e holística proposta pela teoria socio-técnica pode trazer melhorias e ganhos em relação ao ambiente em que as tecnologias como IoT, big data, analytics, robôs colaborativos e impressão 3D são implementadas. Para isso, essa tese tem como objetivo geral identificar como os aspectos socio-técnicos impactam a implementação da Indústria 4.0 e sua contribuição para melhorar os resultados com a sua implementação. Os resultados demonstram que os aspectos socio-técnicos estão associados a níveis mais altos de Indústria 4.0 uma vez que servem de base para que as tecnologias possam operar em um ambiente preparado, com trabalhadores treinados e engajados em seu uso e com uma estratégia clara e delimitada. Os aspectos estratégicos são os que mais impactam no nível de adoção de Indústria 4.0 e são fundamentais para a adoção das tecnologias. Os resultados qualitativos ressaltam tal necessidade e demonstram como as empresas têm feito tal transição tanto através de treinamentos, parcerias com startups e organizações governamentais, assim como buscando capabilidades e conhecimento através de fornecedores, universidades e consultorias. Ainda, os resultados evidenciaram a importância de coletar, armazenaram e possuir capacidade de utilizar dados para melhorias contínuas. Maturidade lean bem estabelecida e a definição de um roadmap estratégico e tecnológico que guie o processo de implementação das tecnologias também foi demonstrado como essencial para que a empresa foque num contexto mais amplo de tecnologias em detrimento de implementações pontuais e usos ad hoc. Finalmente, os resultados também demonstraram que apesar de aspectos de definição estratégica trazerem ganhos importantes para a implementação de Indústria 4.0, melhorias relacionadas a trabalhadores, como engajamento, qualificação e treinamento também são capazes de trazer melhorias na produtividade. Dessa forma, essa tese traz ganhos teóricos para um campo crescente e de interesse da indústria e que demandam investimentos altos, impactando não somente os trabalhadores, mas diversos aspectos organizacionais, sociais e técnicos da empresa. Os resultados discutidos aqui trazem evidências empíricas da importância de uma visão socio-técnica pautada em processos mais organizados, estratégia bem definida e trabalhadores treinados, engajados e participativos na transição para a Indústria 4.0 em contraste a visão tecnocentrista geralmente adotada pelas empresas