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Project Title

Novel wearable sensor calibration and validation for automated measurement of screen time in children

Funding Dates

2/01/2023 – 1/31/2026

Description

Over the last ten years, the use of smartphones and tablets by kids has grown substantially. Current ways of studying how these screens affect children’s health are not able to keep up with the different ways kids use these devices, such as for short periods or on and off throughout the day. This research project aims to (1) create a new device that uses wearable sensors and machine learning to accurately measure how much time kids spend on electronic screens, (2) study how accurate this device is at estimating different types of activity, and (3) compare estimates to the established Comprehensive Assessment of Family Media Exposure (CAFE) tool. The goal is to develop a more accurate measure of screen use of children so future studies will be able to better understand and evaluate the impact of screen time on children’s health.

Research Areas 

Children’s Health
Nutrition & Physical Activity

Principal Investigator

Erik Willis, PhD, MPH

Funding

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

News

Willis Receives an R01 Grant to Assess the Accuracy of Wearable Devices to Measure Children’s Screen Time