What would you pay for a device that would get employees back to their work stations or into a conference room on time for a meeting?

It occurs to us that if a test on cattle proves successful, this could be adapted for workplace use.

Let us explain.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher is working on a device to corral cattle remotely through a high-tech device in the animals’ ears.

The wireless headsets, called the “Ear-A-Round” transmit sounds directly into the cows’ ears to guide their movement. It also contains a small GPS to monitor a cow’s location and movement.

A herd of cows has been trained to respond to the researcher’s singing.

If the singing fails to get the cows moving, the headset can give a small electrical shock.

Researchers are also considering other sound cues such as barking dogs and hissing snakes.

So, for just a moment, let’s pretend we can implant small receivers in employees’ ears. Here are some suggested sound cues and desired responses:

• Crashing sounds followed by emergency sirens (Employees put on their safety gear).
• “There’s chocolate cake in the conference room.” (Employees move to conference room in time for a meeting.)
• “Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie is in your cubicle.” (Gets workers away from the water cooler and back at their desks.)

What would you broadcast in employees’ ears?

Tags: cattle, headsets, meeting