The pro's and con's of GPS in lone worker applications
For a long time, our company resisted the temptation to build GPS based devcies for lone worker applications. Our primary concerns were a mix of technical challenges and thinking about the impact on the user. For example:
Technical challenge 1 - How to introduce GPS technology without making the Identicom form factor less discreet? All of our users appreciate the discreet ID card form factor that is Identicom. They feel safe knowing that if they need to raise an alert because of an abusive client or intruder then they can do this without giving the game away. Introducing GPS would have been easy but would have introduced an unsightly antenna in the Identicom which in turn would make the unit more 'techie' and obvious. Not good.
User challenge 1 - In reality, does GPS make much difference given that many users (certainly in the UK) spend large amounts of time indoors and therefore potentially out of range of satallites? How do we best manage the expectations of the user in this respect and also convince them that their lone worker devcie hasn't now become a covert tracking device?
After much hard development work and discussion with users and employers Connexion2 has now created versions of its award winning Identicom with imbedded GPS. Challenges like those above have been resolved and the devices maintain their original, slim ID card form factor and thus remain discreet to wear and to operate.
Interestingly enough, those customers who are now choosing the GPS variants are those where workers are more outdoor based or who face risk whilst moving. Those customers who have trialed GPS units for workers who are more 'indoor' tend to prefer the original models because no significnat benefit is added.
If you have questions about GPS in lone worker devcies or Identicom specifically then please drop me a line.
Technical challenge 1 - How to introduce GPS technology without making the Identicom form factor less discreet? All of our users appreciate the discreet ID card form factor that is Identicom. They feel safe knowing that if they need to raise an alert because of an abusive client or intruder then they can do this without giving the game away. Introducing GPS would have been easy but would have introduced an unsightly antenna in the Identicom which in turn would make the unit more 'techie' and obvious. Not good.
User challenge 1 - In reality, does GPS make much difference given that many users (certainly in the UK) spend large amounts of time indoors and therefore potentially out of range of satallites? How do we best manage the expectations of the user in this respect and also convince them that their lone worker devcie hasn't now become a covert tracking device?
After much hard development work and discussion with users and employers Connexion2 has now created versions of its award winning Identicom with imbedded GPS. Challenges like those above have been resolved and the devices maintain their original, slim ID card form factor and thus remain discreet to wear and to operate.
Interestingly enough, those customers who are now choosing the GPS variants are those where workers are more outdoor based or who face risk whilst moving. Those customers who have trialed GPS units for workers who are more 'indoor' tend to prefer the original models because no significnat benefit is added.
If you have questions about GPS in lone worker devcies or Identicom specifically then please drop me a line.
posted by Craig Swallow at 4:58 PM
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