When creating a project, you have the option of selecting which pieces of passive sensor data you would like to collect via the MyDataHelps app.
Enabling Sensor Data Collection
MyDataHelps integrates with several major data services —including Apple Health, Google Fit, and Fitbit—to collect sensor data from wearables and mobile apps. Many of these services have dozens of sensor data types available, including:
- Steps and activity.
- Nutrition and weight.
- Heart rate and other vital signs.
- Health records.
- etc.
You can also collect geographic sensor data, including weather and air quality, from other third-party services.
You can select which data services you wish to engage for your project, and which specific sensor data types you wish to collect from each of them. You may use multiple services with multiple data types.
The project settings specify what data you have requested. The actual data collected for each participant may vary depending on device capabilities and permissions. See Sensor Collection Limitations for details.
To enable sensor data collection for your project:
- Go to the "Projects" screen and select the "Sensor & EHR Data" tab.
- Select a sensor data collection service (e.g. Apple Health, Google Fit, etc.).
- Select one or more data types to collect from that service.
- Click "Save Sensor & EHR Data Settings" to save your changes. You can also click "Revert Changes" to undo your changes.
Sharing Sensor Data from MyDataHelps
When the participant enrolls in a project, they will be prompted to enable sharing of the data types you have requested. The app will prompt the participant again if you enable different permissions.
If the participant declines to share some or all of their sensor data, it cannot be collected by MyDataHelps. It is not possible to distinguish whether a participant has declined to share data, or the data is simply unavailable due to app/device limitations.
You don't need to deliver surveys in order to collect sensor data. As long as the participant is enrolled in your project and has enabled the appropriate permissions, data is collected passively in the background—even when they are not using the app.
For more information about how participants can enable and change their permission settings, see Sharing Sensor Data from MyDataHelps.
Viewing and Using Sensor Data
Any sensor data you collect will be included in your project's data exports. See Using Exported Data for details about the specific files and the data contained in each.
Selected sensor data can also be examined in the participant viewer, as explained in Viewing Sensor Data.
Sensor Data Services
You can collect sensor data from a variety of data services. They are described briefly below, and in more detail in the following sections.
| Data Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Apple Heath |
Activity, heart rate, sleep analysis, nutrition, and more from compatible iOS devices. If the participant has linked Apple Health to their health provider's system, clinical records may also be available. |
| Apple Location Tracking | Location tracking from compatible iOS devices. |
| Google Fit | Heart rate, weight, steps, and more from compatible Android devices. |
| Fitbit |
Activity, heart rate, breathing rate, SpO2, nutrition and more from compatible Fitbit devices. |
| Apple Watch Movement Disorder and Accelerometer Monitoring |
Advanced motion monitoring for tremors and dyskinesia. Note: Apple has specified requirements on using the Movement Disorder Monitoring feature, which is limited to projects related to Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders. |
| Air Quality Index | Air quality information for the participant's home, work, or other key locations. |
| Weather | Weather information for the participant's home, work, or other key locations. |
Apple Health
On iOS devices, MyDataHelps can collect data from Apple Health. Apple Health supports a number of different data types: activity, vital signs, sleep analysis, body measurements, and clinical records, nutrition and more.
When the participant enrolls in the project, they will be asked to share their data, and may elect to share some, all, or none of the requested data. Once the participant has elected to share their data, Apple Health will send the last 7 days of data prior to connecting. After the historical data is sent, Apple Health will only send new or updated data each day.
The participant can change these permissions at any time, as described in Sharing Sensor Data from MyDataHelps.
If the participant has linked Apple Health to their provider's Electronic Medical Record system (EMR), your project can also collect selected medical records such as allergies and lab results. HealthKit's Clinical Records is a separate permissioning process from the rest of HealthKit's data.
Only the selected clinical data will be made available to MyDataHelps. MyDataHelps does not collect full medical records.
Apple Location Tracking
On iOS devices, MyDataHelps can track the participant's location. Apple's location tracking service operates in a power-efficient manner, with little to no impact on battery life.
When the participant enrolls in the project, they will be asked to allow MyDataHelps to collect location data. The participant must select "Always" to enable MyDataHelps to collect data even when the app is not running.
Some versions of iOS may prompt the participant in the future to affirm the app permissions. There is no way to get location data for any time period while the MyDataHelps app wasn't installed, when the participant had disabled location services, or when the participant had denied MyDataHelps permission to always access location data.
The participant can change these permissions at any time, as described in Sharing Sensor Data from MyDataHelps.
Google Fit
On Android devices, MyDataHelps can retrieve health information from Google Fit, including heart rate, weight, and steps. The participant does not need to have the Google Fit app installed for MyDataHelps to collect data from Google Fit.
When the participant enrolls in the project, the phone will ask them which sensor data they want to share. They can elect to share some, all, or none of the requested data. The participant will also be prompted to select which account they wish to use. Once the participant has elected to share their data, Google Fit will only send data back to the beginning of the connection date. After this, Google Fit will only send new or updated data each day.
If the participant has elected to share sensor data, MyDataHelps can collect data passively—even when the participant is not using the app.
The participant can change these permissions at any time, as described in Sharing Sensor Data from MyDataHelps.
Fitbit
It is possible to obtain sensor data from participants with Fitbit devices, including activity, sleep tracking, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), breathing rate, SpO2, nutrition data, and more.
The participant will need to link their Fitbit and MyDataHelps accounts before data can be obtained from Fitbit. On Fitbit-enabled projects, there will be an option in the project dashboard allowing the participant to do so. (The specific location and appearance may vary by project.)
The participant will be prompted to log in with their Fitbit account. When the accounts are synced, the app will indicate that the connection is complete.
The participant should login with the account that their Fitbit device is currently syncing to, and when prompted with the Fitbit consent screen, enable profile, device, and any other relevant data types they wish to share.
The Fitbit integration will automatically collect all available data; you do not need to enable specific data types in the project’s “Sensor Data” settings. When the participant first connects their Fitbit account, MyDataHelps fetches up to 1 year of daily data and 35 days of intraday data prior to the connection date. After the historical data is sent, MyDataHelps will fetch the last 7 days of data. In the case that the participant’s last sync was over 7 days ago, MyDataHelps will fetch all of the data since the last sync.
If you are seeking intraday Fitbit data, there is a Fitbit approval process. Please refer to our Fitbit Intraday Data Export article for further details.
Apple Watch Movement Disorder and Accelerometer Monitoring
For participants with the Apple Watch, MyDataHelps can access additional motion monitoring, including:
- Movement Disorder Monitoring to track tremors and dyskinesia sensor data at 1-minute intervals.
- Accelerometer Recording to detect velocity changes.
Apple has specified requirements on using the Movement Disorder Monitoring feature, which is limited to projects related to Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders.
Air Quality Index
The MyDataHelps app can collect Air Quality Index data for participants from AirNow.gov.
For each participant, air quality data is collected using the postal code of their home address, as well as the postal code of any Custom Field whose name ends with the text "PostalCode" (e.g., "WorkPostalCode").
Weather
The MyDataHelps app can collect basic weather data for participants from WeatherBit.io.
For each participant, weather data is collected using the postal code of their home address, as well as the postal code of any Custom Field whose name ends with the text "PostalCode" (e.g., "WorkPostalCode").
Sensor Collection Limitations
The project settings specify which data services and sensor data types you have requested from each participant. The actual data collected will depend on a number of factors, including device capabilities, permissions, and participant demographics.
The table below gives some common examples why the data you requested may not be available.
| Type of Issue | Examples (non-exhaustive) |
|---|---|
| Demographic Data | You request weather data for the participant's home location, but they have not provided a postal code. |
| Device Capabilities |
You request heart rate data, but the participant's Fitbit doesn't have heart rate monitoring. You request Apple Watch Movement Disorder tracking, but the participant doesn't have an Apple Watch. You request Apple Health records, but the participant has only an Android device. |
| Data Permissions |
The participant has declined to share some or all of their data with MyDataHelps. The participant has elected to share location data only when MyDataHelps is running, and has the app in the background. |
| App or Device Synchronization Issues |
MyDataHelps cannot communicate with the participant's device. The participant's Fitbit app hasn't been able to sync data with the Fitbit server. There is an issue with the participant's Apple Health or Google Fit app. |
If the participant declines to share some or all of their sensor data, it cannot be collected by MyDataHelps. It is not possible to distinguish whether a participant has declined to share data, or the data is simply unavailable due to app/device limitations.