Data Capture
Theme overview
Data Capture develops novel approaches to capturing the variety of data of interest to researchers in the IEU – everything from molecules to behaviours. It is cross-cutting and supports a wide and varied portfolio of research projects across the IEU, while at the same time horizon scanning and collaborating with other world leading teams to bring innovative data capture technologies and techniques into the Unit. Specific research interests include sensing health behaviours using wearable digital devices, crowd-sourcing of cognitive and behavioural data collection, continuous bio-sensing, low energy sensing technologies, on-body video capture, novel dietary assessment and technologies for behaviour change interventions.
Research highlights
Measuring lifestyle health behaviours with wearable digital devices
Measuring lifestyle health behaviours with wearable digital devices
Measures of lifestyle health behaviours, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and snack eating, are largely based on self-report, and are consequently subject to a variety of biases. Wearable digital devices (smartwatches, activity trackers) provide motion data to enable passive detection of hand movement signatures of specific behaviours, such as smoking. This means we can accurately and automatically measure these behaviours, without the need for input from the individual. It also enables the delivery of timely, highly targeted behaviour change interventions
Continuous and ambulatory bio-sensing
To understand the body’s highly dynamic biological systems we need to sample biological measures like glucose and hormone levels far more frequently than we currently do, and in free living rather than clinical settings. New technologies are enabling us to do exactly this. Using these technologies, we are exploring the dynamic responses of particular biological systems to major life events
On-body video capture of mother-infant interactions
Problems with mother-infant interactions have been linked to maternal depression and negative childhood outcomes. Traditional approaches to measuring these interactions involve a researcher filming the mother and infant together for a short period. This is unlikely to capture a representative range of natural interactions, and the presence of a researcher may also influence the nature of the interactions. The latest in lightweight, on-body camera technologies allows us to capture, measure and analyse detailed, face-to-face interactions without the need for researchers to be present, over prolonged periods of time, in natural settings.
