There's some fact to the fiction...
Click below to learn about the technology and social issues related to "The Price of Productivity."
The facial recognition device that allows employees to enter into the company is based on the face recognition used for security purposes. Face recognition methods have been presented in the 1970’s “as a 2D pattern recognition.” This biometric device is universally used within “access control, law enforcement, smart cards, and surveillance systems.” As technology progressed, face recognition systems have been used to identify people by their face images stored in a larger database.
Parmar, Divyarajsinh N., and Brijesh B. Mehta. “Face Recognition Methods &
Applications.” ArXiv.org, 3 Mar. 2014, arxiv.org/abs/1403.0485.
The GPS-Tracking device placed within Harley’s Truck is based on the “GPS devices attached to or embedded within an employee’s personal or company vehicle.” The GPS devices have been used to build a case on employees when an incident occurs. Such that the GPS will track and report where and when an employee is at all times when working.
McAllister, Marc Chase. "GPS and Cell Phone Tracking of Employees." Florida Law Review, vol. 70, no. 6, November 2018, p. 1265-1318. HeinOnline.
The Safety Cap Harley uses is inspired by the SafeCap developed by Ford and Sao Paulo-based creative agency GTB. The SafeCap was developed because researchers found that “250,000 Americans fall asleep while driving each day.”
“Ford Has Created A Trucker Hat To Wake Sleepy Drivers.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Jan. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qEsNNki0gc.
The Safety Vest Harley uses is inspired by the vests construction workers use in the workplace. The construction worker vests are termed “smart vests” and they “incorporate a Global Positioning System(GPS), accelerometer, or an inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).” This allows employers to ensure their employees are safe and in good health.
Choi, Byungjoo, et al. “What Drives Construction Workers' Acceptance of Wearable Technologies in the Workplace?: Indoor Localization and Wearable Health Devices for Occupational Safety and Health.” Automation in Construction, Elsevier, 30 Aug. 2017, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580517307215.