Wearable sensor to measure children's screen time
Novel wearable sensor calibration and validation for automated measurement of screen time in children
A wearable sensor with smart algorithms to automatically track how much time children spend using screens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290435 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, your child would wear a small device that records light and movement while going about daily activities. Researchers will train machine-learning algorithms to recognize when the child is looking at or using a screen by comparing the device signals to direct observations during both controlled tasks and free play. Caregivers may be asked to help with brief visits, allow video or in-person observation, or keep short logs so the device's readings can be checked. The team will refine and test the device so it can reliably measure screen exposure in real-life settings for young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 0–11 and their caregivers who are willing to have the child wear a small sensor and participate in short observation or logging sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults without participating children, children who cannot tolerate wearing a device, or families who rarely use screens are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give parents and clinicians a reliable, objective way to know how much screen time children actually get.
How similar studies have performed: Related wearable-plus-machine-learning methods have shown promise in adults, but calibration and validation specifically in young children is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Willis, Erik a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Willis, Erik a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.