Amazon Envisions New Level of Employee Surveillance with AR Goggles

Amazon has developed a new application for its AR Goggles that can be used for surveillance of its workforce working in warehouses. These Goggles can be worn easily and will be connected to a computer and can be used to navigate through Amazon’s warehouses that run across several square feet.

The idea behind this patent app is to collect all the navigation data that would help them replace the delivery men with robots. Amazon is known to have big warehouses and a large amount of employee data that they track on a daily basis. Until now, they have been using QR codes and other onboard technologies in their warehouses to keep themselves up-to-date with all the data. But now, with the forthcoming AR Goggles, they will take their tracking to the next level by even measuring their walking speed, the exact location of the employees and also the time when they would break or have a bite.

Additionally, the AR Goggles can also be configured with other computing devices that will help in giving instructions to the workers wearing these goggles. Amazon already tracks its employees while they take short restroom breaks and with these AR goggles, it would become even more difficult for them to take short detours or breaks.

Amazon is being criticized for having such intrusive futuristic plans for employee surveillance because, in the end, workers need to be treated like humans and not robots. It is true that Amazon, in the long run, wants to replace its warehouse workers with robots. However, they need to understand that they cannot turn their human workers into machines to attain some un-achievable targets.

Augmented Reality has definitely brought about a revolution in various sectors of work, but it is important to understand where to draw the line and not make it too intrusive for people. Too much surveillance by Amazon AR Goggles might also result in discontent amongst its employees and hence, reduce their productivity and efficiency.