eWatch Helps Scientists Evaluate Environmental Risks
An electronic device the size of a large wristwatch is helping researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh gather information on people’s exposure to situations which may increase their risk of disease and illness.
The eWatch contains multiple sensors which measure environmental factors such as sound, motion, temperature, and other conditions. It also allows scientists to monitor routine behaviors and psychosocial stress indicators while minimizing the disruption to the individual’s normal routine.
The innovative tool, created by Daniel Siewiorek of the Human-Computer Interaction Institute and Asim Smailagic of the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, was developed as the result of a class project done back in 2004.
Besides gathering data on stressful lifestyles, the Mellon-Pitt team is also working to develop simple manuals and operating procedures for the eWatch so the instrument can be used to collect data for other research groups.
The team has received $426,000 in funding from the National Institutes of Health as part of a larger study investigating how exposure to social and environmental factors contributes to chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Source: Carnegie Mellon University Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Related Links: UPI; ScienceDaily; American Cancer Society
Related Video: HCII Video from Carnegie Mellon University
Related Podcast: Stress accelerates cancer from ABC NewsRadio Health Matters (Australia)
Tags: Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering; Professor Thomas Kamarck; Professor Saul Shiffman; University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology; Pennsylvania
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