Amazon has sparked privacy concerns after filing a patent for augmented reality goggles that track the movement of warehouse workers. According to the patent, the e-commerce giant is interested in developing augmented reality goggles that workers could use to navigate through Amazon's gigantic warehouses, guiding them to the right location. The patent, which was filed last year but made public on Thursday by the US Patents and Trademark Office, would mean the company could send orders to workers through visual cues. "In some embodiments [...] the wearable computing device can be configured to provide worker instructions and/or visual indicators to a worker wearing the wearable computing device who is not moving or navigating through a fulfilment centre." However, the patent application also states that the device could detect where a person is at all times and when they have stopped moving. The patent application states that a "visual cue" could be superimposed on the user's visual field when wearing the goggles, highlighting an item that is within the field of view of the user. For example, if the "bin", or container that holds Amazon products, to which the user is directed appears within the field of view, the device can point the person to it.
Amazon has filed a patent for augmented reality (AR) glasses for its warehouse workers, to help them navigate through the facility to find required products and give them other instructions. The devices would be able to provide visual cues to point out the location of particular products when the worker is near them. They would also be equipped with scanners, barcode readers, image-capturing devices and radio and Bluetooth communications. However, the proposal has triggered concern about the privacy of workers, who would be able to be monitored at all times while wearing the headsets.