WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, chaired by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), today continued its Disrupter Series with a review of wearable technology - Internet-connected devices or apparel physically worn by the user. Today’s hearing follows previous discussions of the Internet of Things, sharing economy, drones, mobile payments, and 3D printing.
“We are just beginning to see the potential of wearable technology across multiple economic sectors in industries such as energy, health care, transportation, retail, professional sports, manufacturing, education, and many others," said Burgess. “Much of the excitement surrounding wearables is rooted in their promise to create new opportunities for economic growth, development, and job creation. Wearables create economic opportunities by providing insights into an individual’s behavior and driving changes to that behavior to improve job performance and execution."
Thomas Bianculli, Vice President of Zebra Technologies Corporation, explained how wearbles are in fact a disrupter technology. “Wearables earn this status because they empower workers with total hands-free mobility in a manner that also provides instant access to business-critical information. Instead of needing multiple devices that are all directed by hand, wearable technology enables new levels of productivity by providing employees with tools that marry natural language interaction with immediately available information be visual, verbal or augmenting the user’s physical reality," said Bianculli.
“Wearable technology has transformed not only our daily lives, myself included, but the digital ecosystem as a whole. Businesses and consumers can now access real-time, highly personalized information with complete hands-free mobility. From manufacturing, sports coaches and athletic trainers, retail, and health care, wearables are paving the way toward limitless opportunities for economic growth, development, safety, and job creation," said full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), who regularly sports a Nike FuelBand.
