Smartphone Software Research Articles

Evaluation of a smartphone-based assessment system in subjects with chronic ankle instability

BackgroundAnkle sprain is the most common sports-related injury, and approximately 80% of patients studied suffered recurrent sprains. These repeated ankle injuries could cause chronic ankle instability, a decrease in sports performance, and a decrease in postural control ability. At the present time, smartphones have become very popular and powerful devices, and smartphone applications (apps) that have been shown to have good validity have been designed to measure human body motion. However, the app focusing on ankle function assessment and rehabilitation is still not widely used and has very limited functions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of smartphone-based systems in the assessment of postural control ability for patients with chronic ankle instability. MethodsFifteen physically active adults (6 male, 9 female; aged = 23.4 ± 5.28 years; height = 167.13 ± 7.3 cm; weight = 62.06 ± 10.82 kg; BMI = 22.08 ± 2.57 kg/ m2) were recruited, and these participants had at least one leg that was evaluated as scoring lower than 27 points according to the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). The smartphone used in the study was ASUS Zenfone 2, and an app developed using MIT App Inventor was used to record built-in accelerometer data during the assessment process. Subjects were asked to perform single leg stance for 20 s in eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions with each leg. The smartphone was fixed in an upright position on the middle of the shin, using an exercise armband, with the screen facing forward. The average of recorded acceleration data was used to represent the postural control performance, and higher values indicated more instability. Data were analyzed with a paired t-test with SPSS 17.0, and the statistical significance was set as alpha <0.05. ResultsA significant difference was found between CAIT scores from the healthier leg and injured leg (healthier leg 23.07 ± 3.80 vs. injured leg 18.27 ± 3.92, p < 0.001). Significant differences were also found between the scores for the healthier leg and injured leg during both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions (eyes-open: healthier leg 0.051 ± 0.018 vs. injured leg 0.072 ± 0.034, p = 0.027; eyes-closed: healthier leg 0.100 ± 0.031 vs. injured leg 0.123 ± 0.038, p = 0.001, unit: m/s2). Significant differences were also found between eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions during both single leg standing with healthier leg and injured leg (healthier leg: eyes-open 0.051 ± 0.018 vs. eyes-closed 0.100 ± 0.031, p < 0.001; injured leg: eyes-open 0.072 ± 0.034 vs. eyes-closed 0.123 ± 0.038, p = 0.001, unit: m/s2). The results demonstrate that the smartphone software can be used to discriminate between the different performances of the healthier leg and injured leg, and also between eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. ConclusionThe smartphone may have the potential to be a convenient, easy-to-use, and feasible tool for the assessment of postural control ability on subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Profile: Cypher - This startup pivoted from cleaning up calls to helping machines hear [Resources_Startups

When John Walker founded Cypher four years ago, he had a simple premise: No one wants to waste time on a noisy phone call. So he built software for smartphones, incorporating a deep neural network, which could apply machine learning to deliver crystal-clear conversations devoid of background noise.

Ambient light-based optical biosensing platform with smartphone-embedded illumination sensor

We present a hand-held optical biosensing system utilizing a smartphone-embedded illumination sensor that is integrated with immunoblotting assay method. The smartphone-embedded illumination sensor is regarded as an alternative optical receiver that can replaces the conventional optical analysis apparatus because the illumination sensor can respond to the ambient light in a wide range of wavelengths, including visible and infrared. To demonstrate the biosensing applicability of our system employing the enzyme-mediated immunoblotting and accompanying light interference, various types of ambient light conditions including outdoor sunlight and indoor fluorescent were tested. For the immunoblotting assay, the biosensing channel generating insoluble precipitates as an end product of the enzymatic reaction is fabricated and mounted on the illumination sensor of the smartphone. The intensity of penetrating light arrives on the illumination sensor is inversely proportional to the amount of precipitates produced in the channel, and these changes are immediately analyzed and quantified via smartphone software. In this study, urinary C-terminal telopeptide fragment of type II collagen (uCTX-II), a biomarker of osteoarthritis diagnosis, was tested as a model analyte. The developed smartphone-based sensing system efficiently measured uCTX-II in the 0–5ng/mL concentration range with a high sensitivity and accuracy under various light conditions. These assay results show that the illumination sensor-based optical biosensor is suitable for point-of-care testing (POCT).

Method of Verifying Integrity of Smartphone Software Utilizing Mobile Storage

Method of Verifying Integrity of Smartphone Software Utilizing Mobile Storage

Evaluation of an automatic image-based screening technique for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

To verify the accuracy of a smart phone software application, which is an automated image-based bilirubin (AIB) testing technique for testing peripheral blood total bilirubin (TB) in term and late preterm neonates. During July 2015 to January 2016, jaundiced neonates were enrolled from department of neonatology in Tongji Hospital, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Shenzhen Bao'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital. The enrolling criteria included gestational age (GA)≥34 weeks and peripheral blood total bilirubin test is required. Near-simultaneous TB, transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB), and AIB were determined. AIB consists of a cloud based off-line learning module and an on-line prediction module. Skin image, by smart phone is uploaded to a specific cloud server that includes learning based software to provide an individualized and immediate predicted bilirubin index. The t-test was used to determine if AIB and peripheral blood TB are significantly different. Agreement of AIB and TcB were compared with peripheral blood TB by Bland-Altman analysis. Linear regression was adopted to model the relationship of AIB and peripheral blood TB. The ROC curve of AIB was also plotted. Two hundred and fifteen neonates were enrolled, gestational age 37 weeks+ 5 d, postnatal age (11±4) d, weight (2.9±0.7) kg, 116 male and 99 female. One hundred and forty-eight term neonates (GA≥37 weeks) and 67 preterm neonates (GA 34-<37 weeks) were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference between AIB (197±51)μmol/L and peripheral blood TB(191±65)μmol/L (t=1.611, P=0.109). There was strong relevance between peripheral blood TB and AIB as shown by Bland-Altman analysis (96% (207/215) samples lay within the 95% limits of agreement). The regression analysis showed that the r(2) was 0.593 in the whole population, while the r(2) was 0.628 in the term neonates. The ROC of AIB yielded a 0.743 AUC, and with 82% sensitivity and 60% specificity based on Youden index criterion. Based on AIB's agreement with peripheral blood TB, the sensitivity and specificity, AIB can be used as a new technique to provide results for objective follow-up for progression and regression of jaundice.

네모파 전압전류법 측정을 위한 블루투스 기반 휴대형 포텐쇼스탯

This paper describes the development of a portable potentiostat which can perform square wave voltammetry on electrochemical sensors and wireless transmission of the measured data to a smartphone using Bluetooth. The potentiostat consists of a square wave potential pulse generation circuit for applying the potential pulse to the electrochemical sensor, a reduction/oxidation (or redox) current measurement circuit, and Bluetooth for wireless data transmission to an Android-based smartphone. The measured data are then processed to show the output graph on the smart phone screen in real time. This data transformation into a graph is carried out by developing and installing a simple transformation application software in the Android-based smartphone. This application software also enables the user to set and change the measurement parameters such as the applied voltage range and measured current range at user’s convenience. The square voltammetry output data measured with the developed portable potentiostat were almost same as the data of the commercial potentiostat. The measured oxidation peak current with the commercial potentiostat was 11.35 μA at 0.26 V and the measured oxidation peak current with the developed system was 12.38 μA at 0.25 V. This proves that performance of the developed portable measurement system is comparable to the commercial one.

Development of a Smart Home Control System Based on Mobile Internet Technology

With the rapid development of mobile internet technology and the continuous improvement of our living standard, our demands for smart home are also increasing. In order to design a smart home control system, we design the topological structure through the analysis of the requirement of smart home control system. Then we select hardware devices; build IP network and communication network to achieve the system function. At last we develop Pad and smart phone software. The system has multiple functions like monitor house, open and close curtains automatically, give an alarm, etc. The smart phone, PC and other devices link the residents and community service center to our houses.

Design quality of Mobile trading system application software for Smartphones

Mobile trading system is financial software for Smartphones that enables investors to make their buy or sell from a mobile phone that has internet connectivity. The application helps the investors to do their financial tasks from anywhere and anytime. The penetration of Smartphones and internet usage has made more and more people use this application. Performance of the application depends on the quality of the app. Similar to earlier studies of website quality (WebQual) and Smartphone application quality (AppQual), this paper looks at developing a scale for measuring the design quality of the mobile trading application software for the Smartphones.

The Feasibility of Flat, Portable and Wireless Device for Non-Invasive Peripheral Oxygenation Measurement over the Entire Body

Peripheral oxygenation level (SpO2) can provide vital information on body functions. Continuous monitoring facilitates effective diagnosis and treatment and can even be lifesaving. Clinical device monitor SpO2 using a clip, and measure light transmission through the tissue. This method limits the body locations of the clip’s placement and is sensitive to body movement, which hampers continuous SpO2 monitoring during wakefulness or sleep, thus decreasing its usability in clinics and its accessibility in homecare usage. We developed a portable, wireless, flat and low cost prototype for continuous monitoring of SpO2 that overcomes those limitations. The prototype enables convenient measurement in larger variety of body locations by spectrophotometric measurements of changes in the optical reflectance unlike other device that measure absorption through the tissue. The original design and signal processing enable reliable signal acquisition, synchronization and control. An Android’s application was developed to provide a user friendly interface for results display on smartphones. The prototype’s measurements were compared to commercial device that simultaneously measured heart rate frequency, transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) and SpO2. The prototype’s measurements accurately reflected changes caused by blood pulses, were correlated to the heart rate, and were sensitive to changes in oxygen saturation. Excellent real time behavior and synchronization were demonstrated between the hardware and smartphone software. Our prototype thus enables convenient SpO2 measurement over the entire body, while maintaining accuracy comparable to commercial device. Its smartphone application enables accessible and understandable results display to patients, care-givers and healthcare professionals. The application’s display and alert calibration flexibility facilitates the prototype’s usage in changing medical requirements and for various disease and conditions. A device based on this prototype can monitor continuously and accurately patients’ SpO2 without limiting their everyday activities or disturbing their sleep and can thus significantly im-prove their medical care in both clinics and home.

Smartphone data as an electronic biomarker of illness activity in bipolar disorder.

Objective methods are lacking for continuous monitoring of illness activity in bipolar disorder. Smartphones offer unique opportunities for continuous monitoring and automatic collection of real-time data. The objectives of the paper were to test the hypotheses that (i) daily electronic self-monitored data and (ii) automatically generated objective data collected using smartphones correlate with clinical ratings of depressive and manic symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. Software for smartphones (the MONARCA I system) that collects automatically generated objective data and self-monitored data on illness activity in patients with bipolar disorder was developed by the authors. A total of 61 patients aged 18-60 years and with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder according to ICD-10 used the MONARCA I system for six months. Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed monthly using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item (HDRS-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), respectively. Data are representative of over 400 clinical ratings. Analyses were computed using linear mixed-effect regression models allowing for both between individual variation and within individual variation over time. Analyses showed significant positive correlations between the duration of incoming and outgoing calls/day and scores on the HDRS-17, and significant positive correlations between the number and duration of incoming calls/day and scores on the YMRS; the number of and duration of outgoing calls/day and scores on the YMRS; and the number of outgoing text messages/day and scores on the YMRS. Analyses showed significant negative correlations between self-monitored data (i.e., mood and activity) and scores on the HDRS-17, and significant positive correlations between self-monitored data (i.e., mood and activity) and scores on the YMRS. Finally, the automatically generated objective data were able to discriminate between affective states. Automatically generated objective data and self-monitored data collected using smartphones correlate with clinically rated depressive and manic symptoms and differ between affective states in patients with bipolar disorder. Smartphone apps represent an easy and objective way to monitor illness activity with real-time data in bipolar disorder and may serve as an electronic biomarker of illness activity.

Participant experiences in a smartphone-based health coaching intervention for type 2 diabetes: A qualitative inquiry

Introduction We investigated the experience of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who participated in an intervention in which the key elements were the provision of a smartphone and self-monitoring software. The interviews focused on use of a smartphone and the effects on motivation for health behavior change. Methods This was a qualitative evaluation of participants in a larger T2DM self-management randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted at the Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) in Toronto, Canada (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02036892). The study is based on semi-structured interviews (n = 11) that were audio taped and analyzed with a thematic analytic approach. The RCT compared the effectiveness of six months of smartphone-based self-monitoring and health coaching with a control group who received health coaching without internet or smartphone-based assistance. Results Qualitative data analyses resulted in derivation of four major themes that describe participant experience: (a) ‘smartphone and software’, describes smartphone use in relation to health behavior change; (b) ‘health coach’ describes how client/health coach relationships were assisted by smartphone use; (c) ‘overall experience’ describes perceptions of the overall intervention; and (d) ‘frustrations in managing chronic conditions’ describes difficulties with the complexities of T2DM management from a patient perspective. Discussion Findings suggest that interventions with T2DM assisted by smartphone software and health coaches actively engage individuals in improved hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control.

Advances in the Real-time Documentation of Psychosis and Suicidal Ideation

Clinical interviews are typically used in the assessment psychosis and related clinical symptoms. However, these measures are limited by recall bias and averaging, and thus important information is lost. Ambulatory real-time monitoring devices have the advantage of providing detailed and sensitive information about symptoms. This can provide valuable information about change and fluctuations in symptoms across time. Suicide represents a substantial problem in psychiatry, but little is known about the immediate triggers of suicidal ideation. Psychological theory suggests that the instability, in addition to the intensity, of depressed mood may be an important risk factor for the development of suicidal ideation. Mobile phone-based assessments may allow for a more accurate measure of suicidality and mood across time. In this presentation, a new smart phone software application (ClinTouch) for the assessment of psychotic and related symptoms will be described. Research investigating the feasibility, acceptability, and limitations of mobile-phone based assessment will be discussed in relation to people with psychosis. Mobile phone-based research investigating the short-term predictors of thoughts about self-injury will also be considered. The talk will finish with an outline of how mobile-based assessments could be applied in clinical settings.

Smartphone Data as an Electronic Biomarker of Illness Activity in Bipolar Disorder

Introduction There is a lack of objective methods for continuous monitoring of illness activity in bipolar disorder. Smartphones offer novel and unique opportunities for monitoring of symptoms and collection of real-time data. Objective To test the hypothesis that automatically generated objective data and self-monitored correlate with clinically rated depressive and manic symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods Software for smartphones (the MONARCA system) was developed by our group. This system allows for continuous collection of automatically generated objective data and self-monitored data. A total of 61 patients with bipolar disorder aged 18-60 years used the MONARCA system for a six months period. Patients were rated, by a researcher blinded to smartphone data, once a month for six months using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item (HDRS-17) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Results Data showed significant correlations between automatically generated objective data (the number of incoming and outgoing phone calls/ day, the duration of incoming and outgoing phone calls/ day, and the number of outgoing text messages/ day) and depressive and manic symptoms according to HDRS-17 and YMRS, respectively. Data showed significant correlations between self-monitored data (mood, sleep, activity level and stress level) and depressive and manic symptoms according to HDRS-17 and YMRS, respectively. Conclusions Automatically generated objective data and self-monitored data collected using the MONARCA system correlate with clinically rated depressive and manic symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. Smartphone apps reflect an easy and objective way to continuously monitor illness activity with real-time data.

Interview: David Wood

He may have been a main player in developing smartphone software at Psion, but David Wood is not concerned with the past. His mission is to ensure society acts smart and doesn't squander a future that's there for the taking.

A Two-stage Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Paper-based and Software-based Business Cards

We conduct a comparative life cycle assessment of two business card options: a smartphone software and the common paper- based alternative. Life cycle impacts of production, distribution and use of business cards were compared and contrasted for both systems. Given the prevalence and multifunctionality of digital devices and services, we analyze the environmental impacts of the two systems and evaluate their total energy consumption, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and toxic releases by conducting a two-stage life cycle assessment with alternating functional units. The results indicate that, for a small-scale functional unit, the paper-based business card system causes slightly less environmental impact and has lower energy demand than the software-based (digital) business card system. Whereas when considering the more likely, large scale (real world scenario) functional unit, the digital business card system is more environmentally friendly and economical in terms of energy consumption. By comparing these two systems, this paper serves businesses and consumers when considering environmental consequences and energy depletion of their business networking options.

Feasibility of using a mobile application for the monitoring and management of stroke-associated risk factors.

Background and PurposeRecent advances in information technology have created opportunities for advances in the management of stroke. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of using a smartphone software application (app) for the management of vascular risk factors in patients with stroke.MethodsThis prospective clinical trial developed a smartphone app, the 'Korea University Health Monitoring System for Stroke: KUHMS2,' for use by patients with stroke. During a 6-month follow-up period, its feasibility was assessed by measuring the changes in their vascular risk-factor profiles and the number of days per patient with data registration into the app. The effect of the app on the achievement rate of risk-factor targets was assessed by classifying subjects into compliant and noncompliant groups.ResultsAt the end of the trial, data on 48 patients were analyzed. The number of days on which data were registered into the app was 60.42±50.17 (mean±standard deviation). Among predefined vascular risk factors, the target achievement rate for blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) improved significantly from baseline to the final measurement. The serial changes in achievement rates for risk-factor targets did not differ between the compliant and noncompliant groups.ConclusionsMany challenges must be overcome before mobile apps can be used for patients with stroke. Nevertheless, the app tested in this study induced a shift in the risk profiles in a favorable direction among the included stroke patients.

Intracranial ventricular catheter placement with a smartphone assisted instrument.

Mobile technology has recently been introduced for blood pressure measurements or glucose level controls. In surgical disciplines the use of smartphone applications is mostly restricted as training tools or knowledge resources. Simple surgical procedures which are performed often in certain disciplines may be performed with limited accuracy since routine and overwork of medical staff lead to less awareness to possible mistakes. In these cases simple and effective means are necessary to achieve better patient safety.In this context, a surgical instrument for ventricular catheter placement in neurosurgical patients was designed which is assisted by measurements undertaken in a smartphone software application specifically visualizing the use of this instrument and achieving better accuracy for catheter positioning. On theoretical ground, the angulation of the catheter trajectory towards the surface of the skull in a coronal reconstructed CT or MR image is determined as the simplified but the most relevant individual parameter for correct ventricular catheter placement. Transfer of a CT/MRI image onto the smartphone can be performed via mail as anonymous file. Using this image, the trajectory measurement can be performed individually in a few steps by calibration of the image size, definition of the frontal entry point, and virtual placement of the instrument on the surface of the skull. Then the angulation can be adjusted and measured to place the catheter's trajectory towards the ipsilateral ventricle and the catheter length is determined. The parameters are now given by the app and visualized on the image in order to be applied to the surgical site of the patient.The tool represents a widely available and cost-effective solution as navigation technique which is simple to apply in order to achieve better accuracy in ventricular catheter placement for higher safety in a large cohort of neurosurgical patients.

Educational technologies designed to promote cardiovascular health in adults: integrative review

Investigating the educational technologies developed for promoting cardiovascular health in adults. Integrative review carried out in the databases of PubMed, SciELO and LILACS, with 15 articles selected. Over half (60%) of the studies were randomized clinical trials. The developed educational technologies were programs involving three strategies, with duration of one year, use of playful technologies with storytelling, computer programs or software for smartphones, and electronic brochure. These technologies resulted in reduction of blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, decreased hospitalizations and increased years of life. The studies with better impact on the cardiovascular health of adults were those who brought the technology in the form of program and duration of one year.

Developing a smartphone software package for predicting atmospheric pollutant concentrations at mobile locations.

There is considerable evidence that exposure to air pollution is harmful to health. In the U.S., ambient air quality is monitored by Federal and State agencies for regulatory purposes. There are limited options, however, for people to access this data in real-time which hinders an individual's ability to manage their own risks. This paper describes a new software package that models environmental concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), and ozone concentrations for the state of Oregon and calculates personal health risks at the smartphone's current location. Predicted air pollution risk levels can be displayed on mobile devices as interactive maps and graphs color-coded to coincide with EPA air quality index (AQI) categories. Users have the option of setting air quality warning levels via color-coded bars and were notified whenever warning levels were exceeded by predicted levels within 10 km. We validated the software using data from participants as well as from simulations which showed that the application was capable of identifying spatial and temporal air quality trends. This unique application provides a potential low-cost technology for reducing personal exposure to air pollution which can improve quality of life particularly for people with health conditions, such as asthma, that make them more susceptible to these hazards.

A Smartphone-Based Pain Management App for Adolescents With Cancer: Establishing System Requirements and a Pain Care Algorithm Based on Literature Review, Interviews, and Consensus

BackgroundPain that occurs both within and outside of the hospital setting is a common and distressing problem for adolescents with cancer. The use of smartphone technology may facilitate rapid, in-the-moment pain support for this population. To ensure the best possible pain management advice is given, evidence-based and expert-vetted care algorithms and system design features, which are designed using user-centered methods, are required.ObjectiveTo develop the decision algorithm and system requirements that will inform the pain management advice provided by a real-time smartphone-based pain management app for adolescents with cancer.MethodsA systematic approach to algorithm development and system design was utilized. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken to understand the current body of knowledge pertaining to pediatric cancer pain management. A user-centered approach to development was used as the results of the review were disseminated to 15 international experts (clinicians, scientists, and a consumer) in pediatric pain, pediatric oncology and mHealth design, who participated in a 2-day consensus conference. This conference used nominal group technique to develop consensus on important pain inputs, pain management advice, and system design requirements. Using data generated at the conference, a prototype algorithm was developed. Iterative qualitative testing was conducted with adolescents with cancer, as well as pediatric oncology and pain health care providers to vet and refine the developed algorithm and system requirements for the real-time smartphone app.ResultsThe systematic literature review established the current state of research related to nonpharmacological pediatric cancer pain management. The 2-day consensus conference established which clinically important pain inputs by adolescents would require action (pain management advice) from the app, the appropriate advice the app should provide to adolescents in pain, and the functional requirements of the app. These results were used to build a detailed prototype algorithm capable of providing adolescents with pain management support based on their individual pain. Analysis of qualitative interviews with 9 multidisciplinary health care professionals and 10 adolescents resulted in 4 themes that helped to adapt the algorithm and requirements to the needs of adolescents. Specifically, themes were overall endorsement of the system, the need for a clinical expert, the need to individualize the system, and changes to the algorithm to improve potential clinical effectiveness.ConclusionsThis study used a phased and user-centered approach to develop a pain management algorithm for adolescents with cancer and the system requirements of an associated app. The smartphone software is currently being created and subsequent work will focus on the usability, feasibility, and effectiveness testing of the app for adolescents with cancer pain.