Amazon sparks privacy concerns as patent reveals AR goggles to direct employees through warehouses - and monitor their every move
Amazon
sparks privacy concerns as patent reveals AR goggles to direct employees
through warehouses - and monitor their every move
·
Amazon has
patented a 'wearable computing device' that displays directions
·
It says the
AR goggles would help employees navigate its massive warehouses
·
But there
are fears it could be used for far more nefarious purposes, such as tracking
employees movements and activity as they're on the job
·
The firm
already collects massive amounts of data on its warehouse employees
·
It has come
under fire for the working conditions at its fulfillment centers with employees
complaining they can't even have a break to use the restroom
·
·
Amazon has patented a pair of augmented reality goggles
that could be used to keep a close eye on its employees.
A newly filed patent describes a 'wearable computing
device' that would overlay turn-by-turn directions on the goggles' screen,
showing employees where to place certain objects in one of Amazon's fulfillment
centers.
However, the goggles laid out in the patent have raised
the ire of privacy advocates who believe they could be used for far more
nefarious purposes, such as tracking employees' every move.
Amazon has previously come under fire for the working
conditions at its fulfillment warehouses, with employees complaining that
they're sometimes unable to get a break during the day, even to go to the
restroom.
Amazon defended the patent application, saying it has
'nothing to do' with surveilling employees.
'Technology has empowered and enabled workplaces
throughout human history,' an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.
'Smart glasses and head-up displays are already helping
people in lots of ways – providing doctors with information to perform surgery,
drivers with information to help them drive safely, and athletes with
information to achieve their goals.
'We are always thinking of ways that innovation can
further improve the employee experience – such as this conceptual idea for
augmented reality glasses that would free up fulfillment center associates’
hands from carrying the hand-held scanners commonly used in warehouses around
the world to locate items for customers.
The patent was filed in March 2017, but just became
publicly available on Thursday.
The goggles would connect to a computing device that's
worn on the employee's body, which powers the turn-by-turn data.
'For example, if a location of a worker within a
fulfillment center can be determined, location-specific information, such as,
for example, turn-by-turn directions to a destination within the fulfillment
center, can be rendered in the user interface,' according to the patent, which
is titled 'Augmented reality user interface facilitating fulfillment.'
'A destination within the fulfillment center can include
a particular floor, row, shelf, bin, or a particular item or product that is
stocked within the fulfillment center,' the patent continues.
In addition to turn-by-turn directions, the glasses may
also display specific instructions for workers, such as 'remove orange box from
shelving unit on the left.'
It may also instruct workers to place a particular item
in a specific location in the warehouse.
Based on the patent, it seems the device's primary use
would be to help employees navigate Amazon's warehouses.
But it also describes collecting extremely detailed
information that could be used to track an employee's whereabouts throughout
the entire workday.
The goggles
would also track 'orientation data, pitch, yaw and accelerometer data,' which
could translate to things like walking speed and their exact location, Gizmodo noted.
One line in the patent describes how the goggles could
even prompt employees who aren't moving to get to work.
'In some embodiments, the wearable computing device
can be configured to provide worker instructions and/or visual indicators to a
worker wearing the wearable computing device who is not moving,' the patent
states.
While Amazon's fulfillment centers employ anywhere
between 1,000 and 2,500 positions, there have been concerns that that could
change with the advent of smarter, automated robots.
What's even scarier, the data collected from the
AR-equipped goggles in the patent could be used to train Amazon's robots,
Gizmodo explained.
Amazon already collects massive amounts of information
about its employees through various means.
It also recently patented an ultrasonic wristband
that can monitor a worker's every move.
According to the patent, data about the position of a
worker's hands is sent to the company in real-time.
Amazon describes the technology as a 'time-saving'
device, but some have criticised the system for going a step too far in
monitoring performance.
IS
AMAZON PLANNING TO TRACK ITS EMPLOYEES?
Amazon, it seems, wants to keep a close eye
on its employees.
One of the firm's latest patent suggests it
is working on an ultrasonic wristband that can monitor a worker's every move.
According to the patent, data about the
position of a worker's hands is sent to the company in real-time.
Amazon describes the technology as a
'time-saving' device, but some have criticised the system for going a step too
far in monitoring performance.
The Amazon patent was published by the
United States Patent Office.
It describes 'ultrasonic tracking of a
worker's hands' that would be used to 'monitor performance of assigned tasks.'
Diagrams show how workers will wear
bracelets on either hand, which contain 'ultrasonic units.'
The patent states: 'The ultrasonic unit is
configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user's hand and to
periodically emit ultrasonic sound pulses.'
These silent pulses would then be picked by
'ultrasonic transducers' placed around the warehouse.
The patent outlines a feedback system which
means the device vibrates to point the wearer's hand in the right
direction.
While some
are concerned about this new patent, an Amazon spokesperson told the MailOnline that 'the speculation
about this patent is misguided'.
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