Study provides insights to reduce hesitancy in adopting wearables in workplace
Study provides insights to reduce hesitancy in adopting wearables in workplace
June 4, 2025
Authors of the study on wearable technology included, from left,
David Saucier, Reuben Burch, Lesley Strawderman and Brian Smith of Mississippi State University.
MSU/ISE authors highlighted in Research: Inside IISE Journals
Wearable technology is well integrated into most people’s daily lives. Smartwatches, health trackers and even jewelry embedded with sensor technology are used by many people to meet their own health-related goals. As wearable technology becomes more embedded in society, why do we not see its use increasing in manufacturing settings?
Ergonomists and industrial engineers often look to technology to improve workplace outcomes such as safety and productivity. However, hesitancy toward new technology can hinder the adoption of devices such as wearables. These themes are explored further in the paper entitled “Wearable Technology Hesitancy in Industrial Applications.”
In their study, Lesley Strawderman, Bailey Jose, Reuben Burch, David Saucier, Ayush Poudel and Brian Smith from Mississippi State University spoke to industry representatives about the factors that influence the implementation of wearables in the manufacturing workplace. They specifically wanted to learn why wearables were not commonplace for tracking and predicting ergonomics, safety and productivity outcomes. After all, if a person is using a wearable device most days, why not leverage that for improving work outcomes?
Given the situation in most manufacturing plants, where the user of a wearable device is not the chooser of the device, they focused on high-level hesitancy factors related to management, work design and job requirements. This contrasts with most technology acceptance literature that explores individual factors such as comfort and usability.
The team completed 14 focus groups with employers, technology providers, workforce strategists, occupational safety professionals, workers (incumbent and in training) and state agency workforce administrators. Focus group participants provided several actionable insights to reduce hesitancy in adopting wearables in the industrial workplace. First, emphasizing safety culture and the benefits to workplace safety and health is paramount. Second, the case for using wearable for performance improvement should also be discussed after leading with safety. Finally, organizations should consider voluntary participation in a wearables program with early adopters.
