One way to take care of the staff in lockdown: press the blue button if you are sad and the yellow button if you are happy
At first glance, this silicone band worn on the wrist looks like a normal band that keeps track of the heartbeat during exercise. But this technology called ‘mood beam’ is not for your physical health but for your boss so that he can understand your feelings.
The band is connected to a mobile phone app and a web interface and has two yellow and blue buttons. The idea is to press the blue button if you are sad and the yellow button if you are happy.
It will be used by companies that want to monitor the emotional state of those who work from home. Employees will be encouraged to wear this wristband (they can’t say) and they can press the relevant button whenever they deem appropriate throughout the week.
Team managers can then see through an online dashboard how their employees are feeling and how they are coping. As the bosses can no longer meet their team in person, the mood beam is expected to bridge the gap.
Mode Beam co-founder Christina Colmer McHugh says: ‘Businesses from home want to stay connected with their staff. Here it can ask up to 500 people at once without answering the phone, “Are you all right?”