Morning commute to work got you down? Or perhaps you’re stressed out by not being able to pay all the bills this month? Whatever the situation may be, stress can lead to a host of health problems such as sleeplessness, irritability, headaches and ulcers (to name a few). Getting a handle on the physical or mental pressures can be difficult, however researchers from the University of Cambridge have recently released an app that monitors you’re lifestyle to pinpoint potential ‘triggers’ that causes stress.
The researchers, led by Dirk Trossen, designed the AIRS (Android Remote Sensing) to use all of the sensors built in an Android-based mobile device to ‘measure physical changes’ throughout the day to form an overall picture of the user’s environment and mental patterns. The information (over 60 values in all) taken from the mobile devices sensors is then combined with information screened from phone calls and text messages made along with environmental conditions such as sound levels, light conditions, heart rate (using attached pulse monitors) and even air pressure to create an customized evaluation on stressor triggers using software (known as Storica) developed by Dana Pavel at Essex University. Users can then see a detailed readout of their day and identify the ‘flash points’ associated with stress. Users can then take advantage of the readouts to change their lifestyles or certain habits that cause pressure throughout the day in an effort to reduce those stressors. The AIRS app has already been updated since its initial release to version 2.5.4 (available on Google Play) and according to its creator will continue to be updated on a regular basis. According to Trossen future versions of the AIRS app might see the inclusion of medical diagnosis and prescription drug features for certain parts of the population that have been qualified to do so (the elderly and those with hypertension perhaps). Those worried about their personal data being used by nefarious entities need not worry as all the information collected is stored locally on the mobile device being used and can be wiped if the device is lost or stolen.
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