Employers push for increased productivity and retention of control in lieu of working conditions as this directly parallels slavery. Amazon patents have targeted the productivity of their warehouses and particularly their warehouse workers. These patents are instances of “human extended automation,” which pushes the Amazon workplace into one in which “human operators serve machines rather than vice versa.” One of the largest and wealthiest companies in the world envisions implementing/has implemented extensive employee tracking technology in the workplace.

Sainato, M. (2020, February 5). 'I'm not a robot': Amazon workers condemn unsafe, grueling conditions at warehouse. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-workers-protest-unsafe-grueling-conditions-warehouse.

YouTube. (2020). Day in the Life of an Amazon Packer. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTVfbSeeS74

The haptic wristbands Wyatt wears are based on ones that Amazon patented in 2017. Though it is unclear how widely used this patent is in Amazon warehouses today, Amazon representatives have advocated for them and stated, “Every day at companies around the world, employees use handheld scanners to check inventory and fulfill orders...By moving equipment to associates’ wrists, we could free up their hands from scanners and their eyes from computer screens” (Ong 2018). Nonetheless, it is important to consider how there are efficiency costs. Wearable technology like wristbands dehumanizes employees and dangerously contributes to increased workplace injuries. The fact that Amazon has more than five times the industry standard of worker injuries could be attributed to the heightened culture of productivity that this technology promotes.

Ong, T. (2018, February 1). Amazon patents wristbands that track warehouse employees' hands in real time. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/1/16958918/amazon-patents-trackable-wristband-warehouse-employees.

Sainato, M. (2020, February 5). 'I'm not a robot': Amazon workers condemn unsafe, grueling conditions at warehouse. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-workers-protest-unsafe-grueling-conditions-warehouse.

The finder glasses Wyatt uses are inspired by the patented amazon reality goggles. The goggles aim to establish communication with workers to aid in decision-making. The wearable goggles allow the viewer to see “three-dimensional models of the available space.”

Delfanti, A., & Frey, B. (2021). Humanly Extended Automation or the Future of Work Seen through Amazon Patents. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 46(3), 655–682. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243920943665

The competition Wyatt encounters in his workplace is based on studies that have found how women are excluded from participating in certain meetings. This produces a male-dominated organization and has been shown to allow for competition in the workplace to impact women more than men.

Payne, J. (2018). Manufacturing Masculinity: Exploring Gender and Workplace Surveillance. Work and Occupations, 45(3), 346–383. https://doi.org/10.1177/0730888418780969

Technology can support workers, but it can also be a detriment when they feel uncertain about privacy and similar implementation issues. Social networks greatly varied by role, gaps in technology (Bluetooth beacons could not distinguish between face-to-face and proximity interactions, Opos sensors were missed if obstructed by jackets or lanyards), and that employees underestimated their hand hygiene. It is important to consider the impact of collecting/quantifying social network information in the workplace.

Porter, B. (2020, June 16). Amazon introduces 'Distance Assistant'. US About Amazon. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/amazon-introduces-distance-assistant

Zivich, P. N., Huang, W., Walsh, A., Dutta, P., Eisenberg, M., & Aiello, A. E. (2021). Measuring office workplace interactions and hand hygiene behaviors through electronic sensors: A feasibility study. PLOS ONE, 16(1), e0243358. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243358

Though the Opos sensors of Health Helper have not been actively implemented, this technology is based on a 2020 study by Zivich et. al that explored its feasibility in measuring workplace interactions. Zivich et. al sought to investigate possible preventative measures for future outbreaks in office spaces but do not consider the ethics and potential harm of tracking social networks or union activity. Companies have historically impeded workers’ labor rights with minimal repercussions and older protective policies such as the National Labor Relations Act have failed to adjust to technological advancements of worker surveillance. Therefore, it is especially crucial to consider the labor rights implications of workplace tracking technology and balance those considerations with any benefits to public health.

Garden, C. (2018). Labor Organizing in the Age of Surveillance. St. Louis U. L.J., 63, 15.

Zivich, P. N., Huang, W., Walsh, A., Dutta, P., Eisenberg, M., & Aiello, A. E. (2021). Measuring office workplace interactions and hand hygiene behaviors through electronic sensors: A feasibility study. PLOS ONE, 16(1), e0243358. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243358