A wearable device for industrial safety should collect information and alert the appropriate person to take action. Gerard Fernández explains this proposal in chapter 40 of “Toque de Ingenio”: ENGIDI is developing technology to reduce the time of reaction to incidents in workplace environments. The interview demonstrates how sensors, communications, and a platform need to respond to the actual conditions faced by workers.
Guest: Gerard Fernández, who was introduced in the episode as the CEO of ENGIDI.
Interview published: March 4, 2025. Episode: 40. Duration: 58 min.
In this episode:
- Why an alert requires a complete journey, from the device to the organization’s response.
- How coverage and the working environment influence the development of an industrial wearable.
- What ENGIDI learned by comparing its proposal with the workers who were intended to use it.
Gerard positions the product in situations where an incident might go unnoticed, or where locating a person is difficult. Rather than presenting the technology as an absolute guarantee, he defines a specific function: to provide information and facilitate a response. The article details the equipment, experiences, and plans described in March 2025.
The proposal begins by reducing reaction time.
This episode uses examples from workers in industrial settings and maintenance jobs. Relying solely on someone to alert you if a person loses activity or finds themselves in a situation requiring attention can delay the response.
ENGIDI is proposing a device that accompanies the worker and reports information to a platform. The aim is for the organization to receive a signal and be able to monitor what is happening. This technology integrates into an activity that still requires responsible personnel and established procedures.
Gerard clearly defined the purpose:
“reduce reaction time”.
Gerard Fernández 3:54.
This definition helps to define the scope of the product. While an alert system can provide information for action, it does not eliminate the underlying risks or replace all preventative measures. Its usefulness should be evaluated within the organization that receives and manages the alerts.
Sensors and the platform have different functions.
During the conversation, sensors for temperature, humidity, and movement were mentioned, as well as location tracking features. The device collects data and sends it for the platform to process. This information becomes meaningful when linked to a specific session and the context of the work.
The example of a person exposed to demanding environmental conditions allows us to understand this process. Measuring a variable is the first step; however, knowing when to pay attention requires rules and criteria. Subsequently, someone needs to receive a clear and understandable notification, and then decide on the appropriate course of action.
For a project of electronic development, This raises several integration-related questions. What data is needed, how often, how is it transmitted, and what happens if it stops arriving? The answers condition both the system and its consumption, as well as the user experience.
It’s also important to consider what the person wearing the device sees. The interview explores the meaning of a status light and the entire functionality that should underlie it. A simple indicator can represent a complex technical process that the user needs to understand at a glance.
Connectivity is designed for its intended use.
Gerard explains that coverage was one of the key challenges in the project’s development. A connection that works in the office doesn’t necessarily guarantee coverage of a building, road, or isolated area. The system needs to be able to function in the locations where it’s intended to be used.
ENGIDI describes a solution that works with multiple operators and considers various network conditions. The aim is to expand communication possibilities when one provider doesn’t offer sufficient coverage. This capability should be a part of the product’s decision-making and its implementation.
The conversation also addresses projects involving communication infrastructure for areas with no mobile coverage. Gerard recalls a specific case involving rescue teams in the Teide area. In this type of application, the solution includes establishing a connectivity zone and transmitting information to the outside world.
This example allows us to differentiate between a device and a system. A wearable device may require additional infrastructure to function effectively in a specific environment. Defining this requirement early on prevents treating connectivity as a universal property of the object, independent of where it is used.
Asking the worker changes product decisions.
One of the most valuable lessons from the interview is the importance of validating ideas with industrial clients. Gerard explains that an idea might seem interesting to an innovation department, but can encounter difficulties when it comes to practical implementation.
The worker is aware of gestures, limitations, and issues that may not be apparent in a corporate meeting. If the product feels uncomfortable or doesn’t meet a need they recognize, adoption may fail, even if the technical presentation generated interest.
Gerard identifies that error as not having asked:
“who was the final user we needed to ask.”
Gerard Fernández 31:05.
The case relates to a principle of product design: Those who approve a purchase and those who use the equipment may have different priorities. The development team needs to understand both. An industrial solution must add value to the company and fit with the activities of its employees.
Trust also plays a role. Gerard explains that some workers may interpret technology as a tool for control. Clearly communicating how the information is used and how it helps in a situation is part of the implementation process. The meaning of the device for the person using it is just as important as its functions.
Prototypes to validate seemingly minor details.
Gerard describes several generations of hardware and numerous programming revisions before the equipment currently on the table was developed. Each version incorporated problems identified and necessary modifications. The development involved both physical and logical changes that had to work together.
The conversation pauses on a seemingly minor example: the status light. Its color, diffusion, and visibility may require specific testing. An indicator that is clear in one environment may lose clarity with different lighting or from a different position.
Those details highlight that industrial use presents specific conditions. The way the device is handled, the interpretation of its signals, and the intended environment should all be considered as key questions. Perceived quality and ease of use are built upon a series of decisions.
Los prototypes They allow you to compare those issues before establishing a final version. The aim is to learn what needs to change and why. A well-defined test helps to decide whether the next step requires a different geometry, a different interaction, or a review of the entire system.
Commercial focus and platform evolution.
The interview explores various applications, but Gerard distinguishes between those that support the business and those that are particularly motivating. Understanding this difference helps to focus resources. A versatile technology needs an initial commercial proposal that can be developed and implemented.
When discussing the future, it proposes a broader connection between devices and environmental data. It frames this as a direction for development, rather than a capability that has been demonstrated in all the scenarios mentioned. This vision requires moving beyond specific, verifiable functions.
The episode thus illustrates two approaches to work: reliably addressing an immediate alert, and preparing a platform that can evolve. Maintaining clarity on both allows us to communicate what the product does and what new questions the team is investigating.
What can another development team learn?
- Defining who receives an alert and how it is incorporated into an operational response.
- Validate communications and device status in its real-world usage environment.
- Include the workers alongside those responsible for purchasing and innovation.
- Testing the physical details and interaction aspects to determine whether the tool is being used correctly.
ENGIDI demonstrates how developing an industrial connected product requires listening, integrating, and testing. For companies preparing a wearable or equipment intended for use outside the office, i-mas can help to organize requirements and transform them into a usable physical system. Tell us what you need to develop..
To continue reading: Sensors and machine vision applied to safety in climbing with Lizcore..
Source of article: Interview with Edgar Guerrero, hosted by Gerard Fernández on Toque de Ingenio, published on March 4th, 2025. The quotes link to the relevant sections of the video; the “learnings” are a summarized editorial version of the conversation.
