Wearable Technology: Automotive's Next Digital Frontier

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Cognizant 20-20 InsightsWearable Technology:Automotive’s Next Digital FrontierWearables represent the latest potential shift in consumer technology,with small, ubiquitous devices promising to have an impact similar tosmartphones on the automotive value chain. Great promise, coupledwith a lack of proven use cases, requires that companies proceedcautiously yet ignore wearables at their peril.Executive SummaryWith rapid advancements in technology and areinforced emphasis on innovation and miniaturization, enterprises across industries are seekingto further “consumerize” IT by shifting focus frommobile phones and tablets, to wearable devices.Enterprises also realize the benefits of integrating wearable technologies into key businessprocesses to introduce added operational efficiencies and create a better working environment.Wearables are compact, smart, lightweight devices that typically offer ubiquitous connectivity andcan be worn somewhere on the user’s body. Theytypically consist of one or more of three components: sensors, user interaction capabilities(ranging from a screen or simple bell to a vibrationmotor) and computing architecture. While in mostcases connectivity is enabled through Bluetoothor Wi-Fi in conjunction with a smartphone, somedevices have built-in cellular connectivity. Thesedevices can collect, store and transmit data toother devices or to a cloud infrastructure andcan easily pair with other devices, exchangingdata and sharing computing resources to delivera ”ubiquitous computing” experience to the user.cognizant 20-20 insights june 2015While wearables have become relatively commonin the consumer space as fitness trackers, or“smartwatches,” pundits don’t yet agree onwhether wearables will be a smartphone-likegame-changer in the enterprise space. Manybusinesses are still developing use cases andprototypes before fully embracing wearabletechnology.This white paper addresses the rapid growth ofwearables and their potential to radically changethe automotive Industry. We look at industryexamples in which wearables improve operationalefficiency and enhance the customer experience.We also analyze the challenges that wearablespose, and present actionable recommendationson how enterprises can derive maximum valuethrough their usage.Applying Design ThinkingIn the consumer space, wearables have beenavailable for several years, and in some cases areavailable as second- and third-generation products. Gartner, an IT analyst firm, places wearableuser interfaces at the peak of its “Hype Cycle.”1According to IDC, wearables will transcend early

adopter status and will record a three-fold salesjump in 2014, with an expected CAGR of 78.4% to111.9 million units in 2018.2 In keeping with theseestimates, Amazon recently launched its firstwearables store, making wearables a product category for the mass market.Technology industry heavyweights such as Google,Intel and Facebook have launched an acquisitionspree, acquiring several wearables technologycompanies. This provides these companies withcapabilities ranging from hardware and software,to virtual reality and wearables-related analytics.3In the consumer space, wearables have met withmixed results. Fitness-oriented wearables likeFitbit and Jawbone have received a warm marketreception, while Google’s efforts around GoogleGlass and Android Wear have met with consumeradoption headwinds.4The primary goal of wearables is to obtain anddeliver key information to people in real-time,at the exact point that they need it. In addition,wearables help achieve portability and humanintegration, leaving the user’s hands free to workon other tasks, while maintaining an ability todeliver data from a complex computing back endthat might be hosted in an enterprise or publiccloud. As such, they give users access to massivecomputing power while remaining mobile, andenable them to interact with other devices usinggestures, vision and voice.Wearables also enable the introduction of highlyconnected technologies in traditionally prohibitive environments, which is why they poseparticular usage benefits to the auto industry. Forinstance, consumers expect wearable technologies to advance decision-making while they aredriving a car by delivering an intuitive and interactive user experience without being a distraction.Envision a scenario in which a driver’s smartglasses can give him real-time traffic alerts andprescribe the optimum route to a destination.Or take a case where a quality assurance (QA)worker in an automotive production facility canuse smartglasses to perform a hands-free visualinspection of a vehicle, while inspection data isautomatically relayed to the facility’s quality man-Taking Action from InputsHow inputs from/to the human bodycan stimulate actionJenny is driving back home after a long,tiring day at work. Her car connects to herwearable device via Bluetooth to getbiometric data.With this data, her stress level is determinedto be above normal.The system responds to this by blockingphone calls, turning down the radio volume,and sending a “call back” message.How external inputs can be usedto stimulate actionJim is a salesperson in an automotive dealership.He uses Google Glass cheat sheets to show off thefeatures of cars in the dealership.He scans the barcode on the car using his Google Glass,which displays the information for that vehicle model inhis line of vision.Jim is able to “wow” the customers with his automotiveknowledge and effectively communicate the features,technology and telematics in the car to them.Figure 1cognizant 20-20 insights2

Wearables Can Simplify Business Processes along the Automotive Value ChainEnablersNymi BandSamsung Gear Nissan Nismo Motorola Moto360Apple WatchPebble SmartWatchGoogle GlassEpson Moverio Oculus Rift Vuzix GlassNod SmartringGoogle Smart Contact LensProcessesAutomakers Training & development Quality inspections Collaboration &decision support Service & maintenanceLogistics Providers Training & development Simplified gate-in,gate-out Pre-delivery inspections Collaboration & decisionsupportDealershipsThird-party Repair Shops Real-time diagnostics Virtual test drivesmonitoring Interactive product Step-by-step instructionsmanualsof operating procedures Customized in-store Service & maintenanceexperience Improving salesperson efficiencythrough cheat-sheetsStakeholdersAutomotive Customers Real-time alerts EV status monitoring Remote access Navigation Driver vital healthmonitoring &telemedicine Configuration of userpreferencesFigure 2agement applications. These are just a coupleof scenarios among numerous possibilities thatwearable technology holds for this industry. (Formore insights on how wearables are poised toimpact business, read “Google Glass: Insurance’sNext Killer App.”)Thanks to the advent of rich telematics data andwireless connectivity, cars are smarter today thanever. As Figure 2 reveals, several interesting usecases could emerge as wearables are connectedto a larger ecosystem of “things,” including thecar and driver themselves.Wearables are set to be an important element inthe larger ecosystem of the Internet of Things(IoT), in which the collective computing power ofall the interconnected elements can be harnessedto aid data acquisition and decision-making.Each wearable is instrumented to continuously exchange data with its surroundings, forminga digital footprint that we call a Code Halo. 5Although these devices on their own can simplifybusiness processes, their capabilities will be evenmore compelling when their Code Halos intersectwith those of other connected elements withinthe IoT context map. At a very high level, wearables can use data from the human body and theexternal environment to stimulate action (seeFigure 1, previous page).Increasing Process Effectivenesscognizant 20-20 insightsGiven how quickly wearables have moved into themainstream, as well as the distinctive benefitsthey offer the automotive industry, several automakers and dealerships have rolled out specificpilot programs and are building business cases todrive widespread adoption. In the sections thatfollow, we examine several ways in which wearables could be effectively deployed to transformconsumer and employee experiences in the automotive Industry.Enhancing the Automotive Purchase ProcessWearable technologies such as Oculus Rift thatdeliver an immersive “virtual reality” user experience enable consumers to “test-drive” a vehiclewithout ever stepping foot inside it. Multiple auto3

makers are implementing augmented realityinto their go-to-market strategies. Product manuals, for instance, are now virtualized, allowing carshoppers or owners to simply hold their wearabledevice over a certain area of the vehicle to receivea virtual explanationofwhat it is and whatAutomakers areit does through video,building prototypes text or animated graphfor Google Glass that ics. This will also allowleverage the ability customers to scan rowsof vehicle inventory andof eyeglass-style quickly understand thewearables to deliver features and functional6information directly ities of each.into the wearer’s fieldof vision.In the same way, smartglasses could also helpsalespeople at car dealerships work more effectively, as they would nolonger need to rely on a paper manual to showoff a car’s key features. Through the use of smartglasses, they could highlight salient features byciting information that is overlaid on the glass viaaugmented reality. In fact, some dealerships nowhave deployed pilot learning programs for theirsalesforce, using smartglasses to train them.7Automotive customers already conduct a largeamount of pre-purchase research online beforepurchasing a car. This paves the way for awhole new set of ways for consumer data frommobile phones and wearables to be utilized(with their permission) to enhance their in-storeexperience. Potential applications range fromidentifying customers and communicating theirvehicle preferences when they enter a dealership,to guiding them to the exact model they viewedonline through highly localized navigation and aseries of directional messages to their wearabledevice.Applying this form of Code Halo thinking wouldgive dealerships insights into customers’ onlinepreferences, which they could use to furtherintegrate the online world — where most consumers conduct their primary car buying research— with the physical world, where actual product interactions occur, and most purchases areconsummated.Redefining the Driving ExperienceRecently, several car manufacturers, technology and services companies have collaborated ondeveloping prototypes and concepts to explorecognizant 20-20 insightsthe potential of wearables enhancing the drivingexperience.Several automakers are collaborating with wearable manufacturers to develop apps that remotelymonitor and provide access to the vehicle usingsmartwatch technology.8 Nissan’s Nismo smartwatch monitors metrics such as average speed,fuel efficiency and even the driver’s heart rateto detect fatigue. Mercedes has collaboratedwith smartwatch maker Pebble on an app thatprovides real-time information on vehicle status.Mercedes drivers can also use their smartwatchto be alerted to real-time hazards.BMW has developed smartwatch prototypes forits i3 electric vehicle that allow users to check onbattery status, driving range and door lock status,as well as receive notifications on the vehicle’sservice or inspection needs. BMW plans to makethis app available to Apple Watch users, as well.Tesla offers a similar Apple Watch app, and haseven proposed that Watch will eventually activate self-driving features, allowing the driver to“summon” the car from a parking space and haveit automatically drive to the wearer’s location.Automakers are also building prototypes forGoogle Glass that leverage the ability of eyeglassstyle wearables to deliver information directly intothe wearer’s field of vision. Hyundai’s next generation of products, starting with the 2015 Genesis,will allow owners to connect with their vehicleusing wearable devices. Hyundai’s cloud-basedBlue Link platform makes features like remotestart and service information quickly accessiblethrough new devices like Google Glass.9Mercedes was a pioneer in announcing integrationwith Google’s Glassware project in 2013, allowingthe driver’s Google Glass to seamlessly exchangeinformation with the in-vehicle navigation andtelematics system. Routes and directions areoverlaid via smartglasses onto the road, negating the need to look at a GPS screen.10 Audi andaugmented reality company Metaio have also created a concept app that positions several built-inoperations procedures from the car’s instructionmanual in the line of vision of the user,11 allowingfor an augmented reality user manual rather thana traditional print or electronic version.Similar applications of Glass exist in vehiclemanufacturing and service, with Glass providing augmented reality service, maintenance andinspection information. Future enhancements4

could even include integration with parts ordering and service billing applications, allowing aservice technician to diagnose a problem, order apart from inventory and view installation instructions, all via his or her Google Glass.OEMs and technology companies are not farbehind in these efforts. Harman’s new ADASsystem analyzes real-time data from traffic cameras and alerts users to potential safety threatsto other drivers that may encounter the threatvia their smartglasses.12 DriveSafe has developeda prototype that prevents drivers from dozing offat the wheel by analyzing head and eyelid movements (using the built-in accelerometer in GoogleGlass).13 Inrix’s Google Glassware concept wouldallow drivers wearing Glass to get automaticand unobtrusive notifications of congestion orincidents on the road ahead, with the option ofrequesting an alternate route, with all interactionsperformed through simple voice commands.14Interestingly, Google ended sales of Glass to consumers in early 2015, choosing instead to focuson software developers and commercial applications for the technology. While Glass was neverintended as more than a beta product, concernsaround privacy and social acceptability havetemporarily shelved widespread Glass adoption,providing a note of caution for automakers asthey consider these technologies for widespreadconsumer applications. Despite a shift away fromconsumers, Glass development remains active inthe enterprise space, creating an interesting scenario in which a consumer-focused technologyhas essentially been co-opted by commercial andindustrial users.The Future of DrivingWearables will likely transform the way we interactwith our cars, as driver and vehicle informationcan be shared in previously unprecedented ways.In addition to features such as remote access,navigation, vehicle service and nonsafety applications, there are several possibilities that canbe explored from a health and safety standpoint.Clearly, wearables add a new layer of safety toautomotive driving by extending the driver’s ability to monitor vital health parameters and takeaction in the case of an emergency (see Figure 3),as well as providing notification and informationimmediately and viscerally rather than relying onwarning lights or chimes.The biometric information from the driver’s CodeHalo can be combined with the on-board diagnostics data (OBD) of the vehicle’s Code Halo tomake driving a safer activity. For example, in aScenario for Drowsiness DetectionJeff is driving back home after his night shift.The built-in sensors — accelerometer, gyroscope andcamera — of his Google Glass detect his drowsiness.The vehicle responds with voice and vibration alerts.Despite the alerts, Jeff continues to drive.The vehicle goes into the self-drive mode andsafely steers him to a safe zone.The location-based service on his phonedirects him to the nearest coffee shopfor a break.JeffFigure 3cognizant 20-20 insights5

precarious driving situation, phone calls can beblocked and a direct voicemail/text can be sentto the caller without disturbing the driver.Additionally, an impaired or ill driver could bedetected, the vehicle safely stopped, and helpsummoned before an accident occurs.We have developed a prototype called Tasuke(which means “help”The possible benefits of in Japanese) thatdemonstrates howwearables for automotive biometricinformanufacturers and their mation from theemployees are even driver’s Code Halocould be combinedgreater and much more with on-board diagimmediate, and they nostics data toare not dependent on trigger action. Forinstance, data on theconsumer adoption of a driver’s heart rateparticular technology. from his smartwatchcan be combinedwith information on the speed, acceleration andmaneuvering of the car and fed into an algorithmto gauge the driver’s stress level. If the stresslevel seems high, soothing music can be played tocalm him or her down, or in extreme cases, moreimmediate action can be triggered.While eyeglass- and watch-style wearables arecurrently the most common, a preferred formfactor of wearables has yet to be determined,with manufacturers experimenting with smartbands, contact lenses, rings, etc., each of whichmay engender new possibilities. From an accesscontrol standpoint, biometric data (using smartbands such as Nymi ) can be used to replacecurrent “smart keys,” storing a driver’s vehiclepreferences, locking and unlocking the vehicleusing biometric data, and starting the vehicle.In the longer term, there is a possibility that wearables will be replaced by embedded sensors inthe vehicle and human-implantable devices thataccomplish similar results. A combination of allthese devices could eventually reduce driver reliance on smartphones and dashboard electronics,with intelligent software determining the bestway to notify the driver of information, basedon driver preference and the criticality of thatinformation.cognizant 20-20 insightsProcess Optimization in the Production FacilityThe possible benefits of wearables for automotive manufacturers and their employees are evengreater and much more immediate, and theyare not dependent on consumer adoption of aparticular technology. Wearables can increaseemployee efficiency, improve training and development, enhance communication, reduce reworkand push informed decision-making to lineemployees, bringing about greater efficiency andtransparency. Rapid adoption of this technologyhas caught the imagination of several independent organizations. In fact, the European Unionis now co-funding a project called “WearIT@work,” whose main objective is to investigate theuser and industry acceptance of wearables. Theproject focuses on building business cases andstudying their tangible impact in association withseveral manufacturing companies.15For automotive manufacturers, there are immediate benefits for quality inspections, as wellas for training and development. For instance,smartglasses (Epson Moverio, Oculus Rift, Vuzix ,Google Glass, etc.) can offer the wearer animmersive experience and be tailored for variousoperations and functions, such as playing context-aware instructional videos, live-streamingservice and installation procedures and accessing troubleshooting expertise. Smartglassescould also be used to provide context-sensitive,semi-autonomous training to personnel that caneven be delivered on-demand when an employeeencounters an unfamiliar situation or requiresassistance. Service and maintenance personnelcan use smartglasses to access procedures andtips within or outside the factory.A prototype implementation for training anddevelopment was conducted as part of theWearIT@work project in the Skoda productionfacilities in the Czech Republic.16 Several othercompanies are also working on use cases todeploy wearables on the shop floor.17 Plex Systemshas developed a Google Glass prototype that cananalyze and deliver details of a machine on theshop floor by just looking at it

a digital footprint that we call a Code Halo. 5. Although these devices on their own can simplify business processes, their capabilities will be even more compelling when their Code Halos intersect with those of other connected elements within the IoT context map. At a very high l