An empirical study of spatial and transpatial social networks using Bluetooth and Facebook

This study provides insights into the quantitative similarities, differences and relationships between users' spatial, face-to-face, urban social networks and their transpatial, online counterparts. We explore and map the social ties within a cohort of 2602 users, and how those ties are mediated via physical co-presence and online tools. Our analysis focused on isolating two distinct segments of the social network: one mediated by physical co-presence, and the other mediated by Facebook. Our results suggest that as a whole the networks exhibit homogeneous characteristics, but individuals' involvement in those networks varies considerably. Furthermore this study provides a methodological approach for jointly analysing spatial & transpatial networks utilising pervasive and ubiquitous technology.Comment: 17 pages,4 figures, 1 tabl

Displaybook - Bringing online identity to situated displays

This work is part of a study in which we aim to explore multiple bridges between on-line and off-line forms of socialisation by creating bi-directional connections between Facebook and situated social interactions. In this paper, we specifically describe a study on the use of public displays for the public presentation of data from the Facebook profiles of people near the display. The key challenge is how to map the concept of sharing information within a social network, to the concept of sharing information with the places you visit. For this to be viable, people must have full control over what they share and in what circumstances they will share it. This paper addresses this issue by studying the sharing alternatives, how this sharing of profile data in a public display is perceived by people and what are the main factors affecting that perception. The results suggest that, overall, people seem to be willing to expose parts of their Facebook profiles if given proper privacy controls. However, the study has also revealed a clear gap between privacy control in Facebook and the type of privacy controls that would be needed for this particular use of Facebook information

Mobile psychiatry: Personalised Ambient Monitoring for the mentally ill

Mental health has long been a neglected problem in global healthcare. The social and economic impacts of conditions affecting the mind are still underestimated. However, in recent years it is becoming more apparent that mental disorders are a growing global concern that is not to be trivialised. Considering the rising burden of psychiatric illnesses, there is a necessity of developing novel services and researching effective means of providing interventions to sufferers. Such novel services could include technology-based solutions already used in other healthcare applications but are yet to make their way into standard psychiatric practice. This thesis presents a study on how pervasive technology can be utilised to devise an “early warning” system for patients with bipolar disorder. The system, containing wearable and environmental sensors, would collect behavioural data and use it to inform the user about subtle changes that might indicate an upcoming episode. To test the feasibility of the concept a prototype system was devised, which was followed by trials including four healthy volunteers as well as a bipolar patient. The system included a number of sensory inputs including: accelerometer, light sensors, microphones, GPS tracking and motion detectors. The experiences from the trials led to a conclusion that a large number of sensors may result in incompliance from the users. Therefore, a separate investigation was launched into developing a methodology for detecting behavioural patterns in inputs possible to collect from a mobile phone alone. The premise being that a phone is an everyday use appliance and is likely to be carried and accepted by the patient. The trial revealed that monitoring GPS tracks and Bluetooth encounters has the potential of gaining an insight into a person’s social and behavioural patterns, which usually are strongly influenced by the course of bipolar disorder. Lessons learned during these proceedings amounted to a clearer concept of how a future personalised ambient monitoring system could improve the outcome of treatment of bipolar disorder as well as other psychiatric conditions

Mobile psychiatry: Personalised Ambient Monitoring for the mentally ill

Mental health has long been a neglected problem in global healthcare. The social and economic impacts of conditions affecting the mind are still underestimated. However, in recent years it is becoming more apparent that mental disorders are a growing global concern that is not to be trivialised. Considering the rising burden of psychiatric illnesses, there is a necessity of developing novel services and researching effective means of providing interventions to sufferers. Such novel services could include technology-based solutions already used in other healthcare applications but are yet to make their way into standard psychiatric practice. This thesis presents a study on how pervasive technology can be utilised to devise an “early warning” system for patients with bipolar disorder. The system, containing wearable and environmental sensors, would collect behavioural data and use it to inform the user about subtle changes that might indicate an upcoming episode. To test the feasibility of the concept a prototype system was devised, which was followed by trials including four healthy volunteers as well as a bipolar patient. The system included a number of sensory inputs including: accelerometer, light sensors, microphones, GPS tracking and motion detectors. The experiences from the trials led to a conclusion that a large number of sensors may result in incompliance from the users. Therefore, a separate investigation was launched into developing a methodology for detecting behavioural patterns in inputs possible to collect from a mobile phone alone. The premise being that a phone is an everyday use appliance and is likely to be carried and accepted by the patient. The trial revealed that monitoring GPS tracks and Bluetooth encounters has the potential of gaining an insight into a person’s social and behavioural patterns, which usually are strongly influenced by the course of bipolar disorder. Lessons learned during these proceedings amounted to a clearer concept of how a future personalised ambient monitoring system could improve the outcome of treatment of bipolar disorder as well as other psychiatric conditions