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Increased smartphone screen-time associated with lower sleep quality

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found a significant association between increased smartphone screen-time and lower sleep quality. Over 650 adult participants recorded their daily screen-time using a smartphone application, revealing that longer screen-time periods were linked to poorer sleep quality and less sleep overall.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 9, 2016

Designing the future internet

Raychaudhuri's MobilityFirst project aims to rearchitect the internet with name-based routing, improving flexibility, security, and efficiency. The project has underway trials to deliver content closer to users, extend mobile services, and support targeted emergency messaging.

Artificial intelligence could help farmers diagnose crop diseases

Researchers at Penn State and EPFL developed an AI model to recognize specific plant diseases from images, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.35% in a public dataset. The technology has great potential for supplementing existing disease diagnosis methods and could be implemented on smartphones, especially in developing countries.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateOct 4, 2016

Modeling mood swings

A study of over 28,000 people reveals that individuals consistently follow a hedonic flexibility principle, engaging in mood-increasing activities when feeling bad and useful activities when feeling good. This finding clarifies how emotions shape behavior and explains the trade-offs humans make for long-term happiness.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2016

Scientists simulate tiny bacteria-powered 'windfarm'

Researchers from Oxford University used computer simulations to demonstrate how chaotic bacterial swarming can be organized to power microscopic rotors and devices. The study found that densely packed bacteria can spontaneously assemble into a 'bacterial windfarm' capable of generating persistent mechanical power.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 8, 2016

Wireless, wearable toxic-gas detector

MIT researchers have developed low-cost chemical sensors that enable smartphones to detect trace amounts of toxic gases. The sensors, made from chemically altered carbon nanotubes, can be worn by soldiers on the battlefield or people working with hazardous chemicals to rapidly detect the presence of chemical weapons.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 30, 2016

A new mobile phone app for grassroots mapping

Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed an Android mobile app that harnesses the capabilities of modern smartphones to generate spatial data for mapping landscapes. The app uses on-board sensors in smartphones, including GPS, compass, and camera, along with lightweight drones or kites, to capture high-quality images.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 4, 2016

Consumers reveal barriers to brain-training app-iness

A recent study investigated consumer attitudes towards brain-training apps, finding that over two-thirds reported improved thinking, memory, and attention. However, cost was the primary barrier to their use, highlighting a need for evidence-based apps. Strong positive expectations about app effectiveness may also drive user behavior.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateApr 27, 2016

Travels with my smart phone

Research suggests that relying on smartphones for internet access while traveling can cause significant anxiety. The study, conducted by Hui-Jen Yang and Yun-Long Lay, found that young people and those with higher levels of education experience greater 'smart phone web-dependence' and associated anxiety.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Information and Communication Technology·DateApr 6, 2016