The Potential Future of Employment Might Involve Brain Surveillance
In the realm of technology and work, all the buzz revolves around automation and AI, from self-driving vehicles to robot workers. However, neuroergonomics is shifting the focus back to humans, aiming to enhance their performance at work. This fascinating field examines human behavior during real-world activities, utilizing technology to optimize cognitive performance.
Neuroergonomics can monitor workers' brain activity in various situations or tasks, for instance, while learning new material or under high-pressure assignments. This insight can help determine when employees have mastered their tasks, or if they're showing signs of fatigue. Until now, research relied heavily on invasive procedures in controlled laboratory settings. But thanks to advancements in technology, wearable devices make neuroergonomic research a lot more accessible and noninvasive in real-world settings.
This growing market for neurotechnology, valued at US$21 billion by 2026, will profoundly affect various industries' daily operations. However, embracing neuroergonomics doesn't come without risks, especially with ethical concerns and privacy implications.
As a biomedical engineer and occupational medicine physician, I see immense potential in neuroergonomics. It can help improve workers' overall well-being, health, and productivity by optimizing conditions for individual performance. Neuroergonomics can also provide valuable insights into the human experience at work, enabling task and procedure adaptations tailored to each person, improving job satisfaction.
Two main methods capture brain activity updates in neuroergonomics: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). EEG analyzes electrical activity changes detected by electrodes placed on the scalp, while fNIRS examines blood flow changes, assessing metabolic activity in real-time. By studying the brain's responses to different situations, neuroergonomics can offer valuable insights for improving performance and addressing fatigue in high-stakes roles that require vigilance.
Furthermore, neuroergonomics explores brain stimulation techniques like Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and Focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) to boost brain activity. Studies have shown that tES can immediately improve cognitive tasks performance, while TMS and FUS can enhance motor skills, potentially impacting surgical skills training, military tasks, and athletic performance.
Even though neuroergonomics offers countless benefits, various ethical and privacy concerns require attention. For instance, it's unclear how to protect brain activity data, and whether it falls under HIPAA regulations. Additionally, employers might have the right to require workers to comply with neuroergonomic devices, which could present discrimination concerns. Ensuring a transparent and ethical implementation is crucial to reap the benefits of neuroergonomics while safeguarding workers' rights.
As we embrace a future where work and brains become more intertwined, it's essential to approach this transformation as a collaborative effort involving workers, occupational health professionals, lawyers, government officials, scientists, and ethicists. Working together, we can create safer and more equitable work environments shaped by neuroergonomics.
The integration of technology in neuroergonomics allows for the development of wearable devices, making neuroergonomic research more accessible and noninvasive in real-world settings, leading to a future where tech-driven neurotechnology could be worth $21 billion by 2026. Embracing this tech-driven future, various industries will experience profound changes, but it's crucial to address ethical concerns and ensure a transparent implementation to safeguard workers' rights.
