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Benefits and use cases for wearable technology

One of the most interesting innovations to emerge recently has been the influx of wearable technological devices, including Google Glass and connected wristbands. While these new innovations may seem like mere toys, they have clear potential for use within business settings, if secured properly. To help organizations make the most of these wearable systems, here are a few possible use cases:

Improved capabilities for remote workers
Employees in nearly every industry now have the option - or are required - to work from locations outside the office from time to time. These workers are a unique breed and need tools that will make their on-the-go lifestyle efficient and streamlined. Work intelligent.ly contributor Kevin Purdy noted that wearable technology can help in these efforts, especially with the right applications.

One struggle that many out-of-office workers deal with is traveling expenses. Purdy pointed out that there are programs on the market today that can be leveraged through wearable systems to track business expenditure during travels. For example, the software can keep tabs on an individual's mileage and present it in an easily transcribed data set.

Another advantage offered by wearable devices is faster access to critical resources. For instance, if a Google Glass wearer is in a client meeting and the customer asks a question that the employee does not know of the top of his/her head, he/she need not leave the meeting to seek out the answer. Instead, Purdy suggests that users can search for the information via Glass and quickly bring up important content to answer the inquiry.

Industry-specific benefits: Law enforcement, healthcare, airports
Wearable technology also has benefits for individuals in specific industries, ITPRO contributor Khidr Suleman pointed out. Recently, the NYPD performed a trial for Google Glass, as have organizations in a number of different industries. For police officers, the system has the means to help identify regions of high crime and assist in accessing vital data at a moment's notice.

Suleman also noted that such technology has potential for other sectors as well, including healthcare. Doctors, nurses and other practitioners equipped with Google Glass can utilize the camera to boost efficiency and accuracy of treatment. Individuals can quickly scan bar codes and tags for patient identification, to recall records and verify treatments. Furthermore, Glass has already been used by surgeons during operations to allow for real-time assistance from far away specialists via videoconferences over Google+ Hangouts.

Airport workers may also be able to benefit from such wearable systems. For example, the technology could be utilized to speed up the check-in process and enable quick access to passenger and flight information. Suleman reported that Virgin Atlantic is currently testing these possibilities through a six week trial at Heathrow airport.

Security considerations for wearable technology
However, organizations that allow employees to utilize wearable systems like Google Glass must keep in mind that there are security implications for the use of such devices. Similar to practices with a BYOD policy, wearable endpoints may be able to connect to sensitive company information in databases and other sources. For this reason, it is important to treat these systems like mobile devices from a security standpoint.

Information being accessed by wearable hardware should have protection in place to prevent unauthorized third parties from deciphering the content. Administrators can employ SSL certificates for encryption that safeguards materials in transit from being snooped or stolen by a third party.

Additionally, users should seek to protect their individual accounts with login authentication and strong passwords. This way, whether an employee is connecting with business or personal profiles from their smartphone, desktop or Google Glass, they can verify their identity and prevent unauthorized access.

Protect data in transit with an SSL certificate today. 

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