When We Merge With Machines

When We Merge With Machines Human Augmentation in the Construction Industry A Hilti report / HUMAN AUGMENTATION

Introduction While popular sci-fi films and productivity or capability and comic books may depict prevent personal injuries. ‘human augmentation’ as some sort of futuristic tech In its essence, human that creates cyborg-like augmentation is nothing new beings somewhere between or obscure. For example, human and machine, the the first eyeglasses reality is much less extreme. were constructed in Italy sometime during the 13th The term commonly refers century. Now an estimated to technology that is 164 million Americans wear integrated with a user’s body glasses to correct their to help enhance his or her vision. Let’s Take A Types of human augmentation technology can be distilled Closer Look... down into three categories technology that is integrated based on its function: replicat- with a user’s body to help ing, supplementing, or exceed- enhance his or her productivity ing human ability. or capability and prevent Replicating human ability - This personal injuries. type of human augmentation aims to replicate and/or restore for users – and enable contrac- abilities achievable by a typical tors to tackle health and safety person.1 issues. Maybe no sector explores this Exceeding human ability - Hu- category more than the med- man augmentations that make ical field where pacemakers, it possible to do things that we prosthetics, and wearable are not normally able to do on devices have been advancing our own – such as fly, breathe for decades. underwater, superhuman sen- sory enhancement, etc.1 Supplementing human abili- ty - Devices that artificially aid An interesting example is one’s strength, intelligence, Brain-Computer Interfaces sight, or any other ability be- (BCIs), a field which has grown yond normal limits.1 rapidly in the last few decades. While largely conceptual, BCIs In the construction industry, are interfaces that allow an different types of wearable individual to interact with a devices are being utilized to computer or machine using help reduce strain and fatigue only their mind. 2 / HUMAN AUGMENTATION

Public Opinion 48% Snapshot of men feel it’s Maybe it’s sci-fi lore; maybe ‘completely’ or ‘mostly’ it’s fears it’ll somehow exceed acceptable to augment ...What human ability and render us a body with technology, obsolete. But not everyone compared to 38% of about the is comfortable with the idea women.2 of human augmentation. For construction example, 39% of people think industry? human augmentation will be dangerous for society.2 63% would consider With the global market for However, many see the augmenting our bodies human augmentation projected positive ways in which human with technology to to reach US $22.4 billion by augmentation can improve improve them – either the year 2027,3 many players lives. 63% would consider permanently or in multiple industries will begin augmenting our bodies temporarily.2 driving development of human with technology to improve augmentation for their applica- them – either permanently or tions. 2 temporarily. That’s particularly true for industries such as 53% There is growing momentum construction, where human of those in favor of behind human augmentation augmentation can help make augmentation believe in the construction industry working on jobsites safer, it will improve quality and as a result construction address labor shortages, and of life 2 technology is getting safer. enhance productivity. While these innovations will never replace highly-skilled construction workers, the 40% technology can help support would use them – making working on job- augmentation to sites safer, addressing skilled improve their overall labor shortages and enhancing physical health.2 productivity. One way the industry is imple- menting human augmentation 39% is through exoskeletons – of people think human wearable systems that provide augmentation will be physical assistance to its users dangerous for society.2 through assistive torque and/or structural support. The sys- tem is worn on the body and follows the user’s movements, no – or very limited – modifi- cations of the workplace are required. 3 / HUMAN AUGMENTATION

Exoskeleton Musculoskeletal injuries caused take – provided that they still by overhead construction take the required rest breaks for Addressing work have a profound effect physical and mental wellbeing. Productivity on the construction industry’s businesses and employees. Studies have shown and Increased Companies lose productivity effectiveness of the exoskeleton Demand due to musculoskeletal injuries in terms of reducing stress on a and an employee’s wellbeing is worker’s muscles and joints, to at a risk if they suffer any kind improve the health of a worker of injury. and minimize days lost through poor health.4 Exoskeletons are designed to enhance productivity by By being able to retain skilled reducing stress on the body, workers for longer periods of causing less pain and fatigue time due to fewer employee due to a reduced load on sick days, construction muscles and joints. This reduced companies can utilize stress and increased comfort exoskeletons to improve when working, enables users to operations twofold by improving improve their health and reduce employee wellbeing and the number of sick days they increasing on-site productivity. 498,000 8.9million workers reported to be million working days were suffering from work-related lost due to work-related musculoskeletal injuries in 41% musculoskeletal injuries 2018/19 with... of these injuries relating to in 2019/20.5 5 upper limbs and neck. Final thoughts... Human Augmentation technol- The time to act against ogy has the ability to enhance musculoskeletal injuries the lives – and work – of peo- and support construction ple around the globe. workers is now. Today’s construction com- REFERENCES panies must be aware of the 1. What is Human Augmentation? https://www.freshconsulting.com/insights/blog/what-is-human-augmentation/ issues caused by musculo- 2. Opinium Research. (2020, September). The Future of Human Augmentation 2020. Kaspersky. https://www.kaspersky.com 3. Global Human Augmentation Industry skeletal injuries – from health https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-human-augmentation- and safety issues that affect industry-301047387.html 4. Loughborough University (as cited in The Business MRI Report Hilti) employee wellbeing – through https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/news/musculoskeletal-injuries-cost- industry-646m-peryear-30-05-2019 to productivity issues. 5. HSE, Health and Safety at Work: Summary Statistics for Great Britain, 2019 HSE, Work related musculoskeletal disorder statistics (WRMSDs) in Great Britain, 2020 To learn about Hilti’s wearable exoskeleton for construction, please visit: 4 / HUMAN AUGMENTATION Hilti US | Hilti Canada US Customer Service 1-800-879-8000 | CA Customer Service 1-800-363-4458