The Innovation Lab recently partnered with the Sensor Network Consortium at Boston University's College of Engineering to find a way to use sensor technology to provide real-time feedback. The first phase of the project, called LIFT (Lift Intelligence from Telematics), will involve working with medical researchers to translate proper lifting techniques into algorithms that relate to data transmitted by Bluetooth-equipped sensors. For example, a pressure sensor in a shoe might determine a 180-pound employee is lifting a 30-pound load. An accelerometer fastened to a sleeve could determine the speed of the load and direction in which it is moving.

The technical challenge will be creating a new, wearable device–with a prototype planned by year's end–that can aggregate and analyze information transmitted by these sensors and provide either corrective alerts or positive reinforcement to the wearer. "In going from that prototype to the final production device, we also must keep form factor, battery life, and communication protocols in mind," Anthony adds.

Aside from the technical challenges involved in creating the prototype, there are other hurdles to overcome including reluctance of employees to wearing the device and concerns regarding use of data. "There are privacy issues we know we have to be concerned about, but we believe a successful testing phase that shows the benefit to employers and employees will encourage their participation," Anthony explains.

Along with supplying real-time feedback to workers, The Hartford hopes data can be further aggregated and combined with claims information to perform additional analytics that will enable better loss control on an account-level basis. From a business standpoint, The Hartford sees the benefit of the project in fewer and less-severe claims that will reduce workers' compensation costs for insurers and employers alike. Ultimately, the project also could play a part in product development and pricing. "Depending upon the granularity of data, there are any number of ways to define more precisely the risk that's being insured. Whether it's on the product development side or in more sophisticated underwriting and pricing or even in streamlining claims, there are opportunities across the value chain," Anthony says.

However, he stresses the potential health impacts of the project are the most important. "We will improve the quality of lives if we can reduce injuries," asserts Anthony. "The benefit the employer and employee could receive is compelling, beyond simply premium or claim cost reductions."

The LIFT project also illustrates the philosophy of The Hartford's Innovation Lab. "Unlike more traditional R&D, we don't begin with technology. We identify a business problem or strategic goal and then search for creative ways to solve that problem or meet that goal. Only then do we identify emerging technologies or develop new capabilities," notes Anthony. "We know we won't be able to drive sensor capabilities into the market without both our business and our customers seeing the value proposition."