Articles tagged with Smartphones
A modeling study suggests that digital contact tracing can significantly reduce COVID-19 outbreaks if a significant portion of the population adopts a contact tracing app. With 20% adoption, cases decrease by 35%, while higher adoption rates lead to further reductions.
Researchers develop HeadFi, a plug-in headphone adapter that transforms regular headphones into sensors for user identification, heart rate monitoring and gesture recognition. The invention shows promise in upgrading existing headphones without requiring new hardware or customization.
Researchers develop dynamic and intelligent solution to detect malware in Android apps without rooting devices or breaching privacy. The system achieves high accuracy in sensitive behavior detection, promising enhanced smartphone security.
Assistant Professor Guoyu Lu is creating an AI system that uses smartphones to analyze crop roots, enabling quick and efficient analysis of root shape, surface area, and angles. The goal is to develop a mobile app that can assess various crops and improve breeding resilient crops.
A NUI Galway study found that problem and non-problem gamblers differ in the gratifications they seek from mobile gambling. Problem gamblers use apps to facilitate social interaction and avoid boredom, while non-problem gamblers do not.
Researchers found that young novice drivers who speak into hand-held smartphones while driving are also likely to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs. The study also found a strong correlation between talking on a hand-held phone and speeding, overtaking, and other high-risk behaviors.
Researchers from Skoltech have designed a software-based algorithm for synchronizing time across smartphones, achieving an accuracy of several microseconds. This method can be used to create a network of sensors and has potential applications in various fields, including photography and noise cancellation.
A new method using smartphones offers precise means to gauge food consumption over time, capturing seasonal shifts in diet patterns. The approach has the potential to predict physical well-being and tackle food insecurity affecting two billion people worldwide.
A study by West Virginia University found that top sleep trackers can accurately measure total sleep time and sleep efficiency, but struggle with sleep staging accuracy. Researchers tested eight commercial sleep trackers and found that some devices overestimated or underestimated sleep metrics, while others were unable to quantify slee...
Researchers at Graz University of Technology develop a new method of contact discovery that significantly limits privacy threats, using intersection calculations and encryption protocols. The ContactGuard application stores encrypted address book entries on the mobile phone, preventing service providers from accessing sensitive data.
A digital intervention using a smartphone app altered major personality traits such as conscientiousness and extraversion. Participants who used the app for more than three months reported greater success in achieving their change goals compared to those who only used it for two months.
A virtual reality app called Easyheights has been shown to improve ability to handle real height situations, with participants able to ascend further towards the top than before training. The app uses 360° images and gradually increases perceived distance without increasing fear levels.
Researchers found that smartphone PPG technology can accurately measure blood-oxygen levels and heart rate, comparable to FDA-approved hospital instruments. This technology could enhance remote monitoring of patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disease and initial treatment for respiratory viral pandemics.
A digital personality change intervention targeting behavioral changes, psychoeducation, self-reflection, and progress feedback significantly improved trait changes for participants wanting to increase traits. These findings suggest that personality traits can be altered through interventions in nonclinical samples.
The Autonomous Vehicle Assistant (AVA) smartphone app provides navigational assistance for people with disabilities and seniors to use self-driving cars. The app offers a multisensory interface, GPS technology, real-time computer vision, and artificial intelligence to support navigation and vehicle access.
Researchers at UArizona are developing a COVID-19 testing method that uses a smartphone microscope to analyze saliva samples, delivering results in about 10 minutes. The method combines the speed of existing nasal swab antigen tests with the high accuracy of PCR tests.
Researchers studied why people use their smartphones at cafés, identifying three main reasons: delaying conversation, shielding interaction, and sharing content. Deliberate phone use can be seen as polite if explained or used to signal busy-ness, while excessive use can be perceived as rude.
A systematic review of smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers found they increase physical activity levels in healthy adults by an average of 1850 steps per day. The interventions that were most effective included text-messaging prompts, tailored features, and goal-setting tools.
A research team in South Korea developed a self-healing colorless polyimide material that can repair cracks and damaged functions without high-temperature heat. The material, created by mixing linseed oil-loaded microcapsules with silicone, offers advantages such as accelerated healing process and local damage repair at room temperature.
Scientists developed a novel smartphone-based technique to diagnose viral infections using a deep learning algorithm that identifies viruses in metal nanoparticle-labeled samples with 98.97% sensitivity. The system correctly identified clinically relevant concentrations of Zika, hepatitis B and C in patient samples.
The SyNRG team at the University of Illinois is exploring a new sub-area of mobile technology called 'earable computing' that will run on earphones. This platform aims to continuously sense human behavior, provide acoustic augmented reality, and offer seamless security, among other capabilities.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that older adults in NYC are more likely to report fatigue and pain when encountering stressful social environments. The study used smartphone-based data collection to track participants' movements, activities, and emotions.
A new CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 can provide accurate results in under 30 minutes using a smartphone camera, enabling faster and more accessible testing. The test measures viral load, helping healthcare professionals estimate the stage of infection and predict recovery.
Researchers at WPI and Virginia Tech are developing a smartphone app with technology to protect user personal information and identity. The app will use GPS, Wifi, and Bluetooth to track users' locations and close encounters.
A new study found that people who spent more time on their phones were more likely to reject larger, delayed rewards in favor of smaller, immediate rewards. This suggests a link between smartphone use and impulsive decision-making.
Researchers from KIST and PNU developed an encryption device that detects circularly polarized light to strengthen IoT security. The device uses a phototransistor with cholesteric liquid crystal and π-conjugated polymer, exhibiting high sensitivity in detecting circular polarization.
A new form of computerized brain-training called Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) has been shown to reduce early relapse by 17% in individuals undergoing inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment. The CBM smartphone app SWiPE is designed to train the subconscious brain to avoid alcohol cues and promote healthier behaviors.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that mobile smartphone technology can improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. The 'Staying Alive' app, which alerts trained responders to nearby cardiac arrest victims, was found to reduce response times and potentially improve outcomes.
A University of Cincinnati cardiologist is developing a smartphone app to deliver targeted COVID-19 information and education to Black communities. The app aims to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans, with input from focus groups in three states.
A new study suggests that smartphone acceleration sensors can provide a low-cost measure of road roughness, allowing engineers to prioritize maintenance and reduce costs. This approach could also be used to assess the condition of rural roads in developing countries.
Researchers at Cornell Tech used smartphone data to predict episodes of schizophrenic relapse, analyzing movement, ambient sound and sleep patterns. The method found a median 108% increase in behavior anomalies before relapse.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate key physiological parameters like maximal aerobic speed and endurance in athletes. The non-invasive data gathering method offers new possibilities for treatments and monitoring.
Researchers found a connection between daily spiritual experiences and overall well-being, with both stable and fluctuating experiences contributing to mental well-being. Daily spiritual experiences, such as feeling God's presence or inner peace, were associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher levels of flourishing.
A randomized clinical trial compared two smartphone apps for helping smokers quit, with one approach using gamification and the other leveraging cognitive behavioral therapy. The study found that both apps were effective in reducing cigarette use, but the gamified app had a higher quit rate at 6-month follow-up.
A study from Dartmouth College found that passive monitoring of phone usage can mirror activity in the brain linked to traits such as anxiety, with predictions matching fMRI scans at 80% accuracy. Phone data analysis also supported long-term emotional traits and helped eliminate subjectivity in other information-gathering techniques.
Researchers developed an IoT-based exercise system that improves physical fitness in elderly individuals by measuring oxygen intake and monitoring exercise intensity. With a 5-month training program, participants increased their fitness level to match that of 10 years earlier, utilizing interval walking training (IWT).
A study of 495 Portuguese adults aged 18-24 found a strong link between smartphone use and feelings of panic, anxiety, and obsession. Researchers discovered that those who experienced nomophobia (fear of being without their phone) scored higher on obsession-compulsion tests.
A recent study found that men who used smartphones and tablets in the evening had poorer sperm quality, with lower sperm concentration, motility, and progressive motility. Additionally, longer sleep duration was associated with higher sperm total and greater progressive motility.
The new lens is made up of a single nanometric layer of silicon on arrays of nanoposts that interact with light. It can be used to produce high-resolution images with a wide field of view, suitable for smartphones and other devices relying on sensors.
A new smartphone app can predict asthma deterioration by measuring night-time coughing, indicating worsening symptoms. The study found a strong correlation between increased night-time coughing and subsequent worsening of asthma symptoms, suggesting the app could be a useful tool for monitoring asthma.
A new study by UCL researchers found that contract tracing apps are unlikely to be effective without large-scale uptake and adherence to quarantine advice. The review analyzed 15 relevant studies and suggests that automated contact tracing methods would still need to be used within an integrated public health response.
A Rutgers University study found that relying on the internet for homework is hurting students' long-term retention and resulting in lower grades. Students who use their smartphones to find answers tend to forget the information and perform worse on exams.
A new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that smartphones can detect changes in gait patterns associated with alcohol intoxication. The research suggests that real-time information about alcohol consumption could be used to reduce harm, prevent drinking and driving, or alert a sponsor for someone in tr...
Researchers at Drexel University developed a smartphone app, UnityPhilly, to empower community members in delivering naloxone during opioid overdoses. The study found that participants successfully reversed overdoses in 95.9% of cases and administered naloxone faster than EMS in over half the events.
Researchers have created a novel method using smartphones to measure soil density, which is crucial for nutrient and carbon stock management. The new approach involves taking high-resolution photos of soil samples with a smartphone camera and analyzing them using photogrammetry software.
Community members supplied with naloxone and a smartphone application can act quickly to reverse opioid overdose before EMS arrival, reducing mortality. The study found that layperson-initiated overdose reversal occurred in 59.6% of cases, with volunteers administering naloxone prior to EMS arrival.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have created a novel memory device that exceeds previous performance while offering promising prospects for integration with silicon electronics. The device uses asymmetric metal and semi-metallic graphene materials to achieve record-breaking speed and efficiency.
Researchers at LMU Munich used smartphone data to analyze users' personalities, finding strong correlations between behavior patterns and self-assessed traits. The study focused on the Big Five personality dimensions, revealing that certain types of digital behavior are more informative for specific self-assessments.
Smartphone accelerometers measure key muscle training time-under-tension indicators, aiding in resistance workouts and rehabilitation. The study uses these devices to obtain scientific mechanical-biological descriptors of resistance exercise training, providing valuable insights for trainers and healthcare professionals.
Researchers analyzed display technologies, including Mini-LED, Micro-LED, and OLED. They found that mLED/μLED/OLED emissive displays outperform LCDs in dynamic range, motion picture response time, color gamut, and adaptability to flexible and transparent displays.
A recent study published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that parental smartphone use is rarely associated with poor parenting. In fact, at low levels of displacing family time, more smartphone use was linked to better parenting.
A new analysis found little evidence of negative impacts on parenting from smartphone use. At low levels of displacing family time, more smartphone use was associated with better parenting.
Researchers found that in-person and remote assessments of jugular venous pressure often agreed, correlating with right atrial pressure measurements. The study's results could enable more frequent checks and reduce trips to the doctor's office for heart failure patients.
A UCLA bioengineer designed a glove-like device that can translate American Sign Language into English speech in real-time using a smartphone app. The system uses thin sensors to pick up hand motions and finger placements, which are then translated into spoken words at the rate of about one word per second.
A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has made a groundbreaking discovery that silicon can be stronger and more deformable than previously thought. They found that by using a specific lithography method, silicon pillars could withstand much greater widths without breaking, offering new possibilities for the fabrication of micro-?electro-...
Researchers are developing a patient-friendly smartphone sensor to measure tooth pain and provide accurate care. The grant aims to test a novel way to quantify tooth pain using a commercially available device and miniaturize it for smartphone use.
Researchers found that ambient temperature, surface type, and relative humidity play critical roles in virus survival. Droplet drying times were longer in cities with greater humidity, potentially contributing to slower pandemic growth rates.
Researchers at Universitat Politècnica de València assessed the effectiveness of Bluetooth technology in contact tracing. The study found that Bluetooth is the most suitable technology for detecting contacts within a 2-3 meter range, reducing false contacts and improving efficiency.
A team of physicists at the Universität Leipzig is developing an ultra-compact spectrometer with potential applications in industries such as food, medicine, and textiles. The new instrument could make quality control cheaper and more accessible, allowing for widespread adoption and democratizing access to spectral analysis.
A Florida Tech student discovered systemic design flaws in several internet-connected doorbell and security camera systems, allowing malicious actors to retain access to camera systems indefinitely. The vulnerabilities could lead to substantial invasions of privacy or instances of electronic stalking.