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Predicting sports performance with "big data"

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.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 6, 2020

Smartphone surveys find a connection between daily spiritual experiences and well-being

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.

SourceBaylor University·JournalInternational Journal for the Psychology of Religion·DateOct 2, 2020

Comparing effectiveness of smartphone apps for quitting smoking

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.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateSep 21, 2020

Smartphones can tell when you're drunk by analyzing your walk

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...

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateAug 18, 2020

Psychology: The most personal device

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.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 17, 2020

The effects of smartphone use on 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.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateJul 8, 2020

Surprisingly strong and deformable silicon

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-...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 10, 2020

Universal access to spectrometers one step closer

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.

Inexpensive retinal diagnostics via smartphone

A study by the University of Bonn shows that smartphone-based fundus imaging can detect diabetic retinopathy with high accuracy, even in early stages. The method allows for efficient screening and diagnosis, enabling trained laypersons to examine patients, reducing hospital visits.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalOphthalmology·DateMay 25, 2020

Why smartphones are digital truth serum

A new study found that smartphones increase the willingness of people to disclose personal information online compared to desktop computers. The researchers suggest that smartphone users' comfort and familiarity with their devices lead to a 'safe zone' effect, making them more willing to open up about themselves.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMay 3, 2020

Interference cancellation with high precision, high speed and low computational complexity

Researchers developed a self-interference cancellation filter that can accurately cancel distortion caused by radio and channel distortions, reducing computational complexity and increasing speed. The filter has the potential to enable in-band full-duplex communications in small radios such as smartphones.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalIEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications·DateMay 1, 2020

Review of evidence finds excessive smartphone, social media use may be linked to youth mental health

A new review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests an association between excessive smartphone and social media use and mental distress among adolescents. The authors provide guidance for physicians, parents, and teachers on how to help teens achieve a healthy balance between device use and other aspects of their lives.

Smartphone texting linked to compromised pedestrian safety

A pooled analysis of 14 studies found that text messaging was associated with significantly lower rates of looking left and right before crossing, as well as moderately increased rates of collisions and close calls. Listening to music was not linked to any heightened risk of pedestrian behaviours.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateFeb 3, 2020

Thin to win

University of Utah engineers create a new type of optical lens that is thinner and lighter than conventional lenses, working with night imaging and enabling longer-flying drones and military applications. The lens is made of plastic instead of glass, reducing manufacturing costs.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 8, 2019