Augmenting the Industrial Worker: Iron Man vs. Skynet
Abstract:
The 21st century industrial workforce is being increasingly characterized by multi-skilled, cross-skilled, and dynamically adjustable talent. At the same time, the industrial discussion is dominated by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) with a focus on the technologies and benefits of smart self-optimizing machines at the edge, integrated machine-to-machine communications, and machine learning-driven data analytics at the centre. But what about blue collar workers? The foreseeable future will still require field and factory floor based maintainers and equipment operators to keep systems and companies running. How can the value of AR and wearables be combined with IIoT and extended to blue collar workers, where warm hands touch cold steel?
What if we consider augmenting the human over automation? Mobile, wearable, and AR technologies enable an understanding of each worker’s individual context – who they are, where they are, how they are feeling, and what their competencies might be. These technologies can also deliver specific work instructions to support them in their job.
In this presentation we will explore new strategies to empower the 21st century industrial work force with AR and wearables to increase operational efficiency, individual productivity and safety, and reduce unplanned downtime. How? By using machine learning, predictive intelligence, and curated guidance to deliver the most appropriate piece of data or instruction to the blue collar worker each moment on the job.
Bio:
Gabe Batstone is the co-founder & Chief Executive Officer of contextere. He brings to the company 20 years of experience in software development across multiple industries around the globe. This has included initiatives in the digital oilfield, intelligent vehicles, virtual reality, augmented reality, and big data. Gabe has worked for technology leaders in the aerospace & defense, automotive, and energy markets including NAVTEQ, CAE, and NGRAIN.
Gabe serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian American Business Council (CABC) and co-chairs its Digital Task Force creating a digital framework for NAFTA. Gabe also founded Teagan’s Voice, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting children’s rights following the murder of his 8-year-old daughter in 2014.
Gabe holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts, specializing in Geographic Information Systems, from Ryerson University in Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. Gabe is a frequent public speaker, published writer and has completed postgraduate studies at the United Nations Institute for Training & Research, University of Chicago and Harvard Law School.
