Amazon was recently awarded two patents for a wristband capable of pinpointing the location of warehouse workers and their hand movements in real time. Originally filed back in 2016, the invention proposes to utilize ultrasonic technology placed around a building, such as a warehouse, and on the wristband itself allowing a management module to provide haptic feedback in order to steer the employee toward the proper area. While commentators are concerned that Amazon is merely trying to track employees’ toilet breaks, the tech giant claims the invention is designed solely to facilitate the process of checking inventory and fulfilling orders by “free[ing] up their hands from scanners and their eyes from computer screens.”
