Large-scale capability of smartphone app technology for breakthrough science in infant development

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Smartphone usage has exploded throughout the last decade, with roughly 95% of parents of young children in the UK now owning a smartphone. The project will combine smartphone app technology with the demands of infant research to expand measurement opportunities. A major challenge for infancy research is the rapid pace of infant development. Yet, a typical study might only observe an infant once or twice in the first year. An app can allow frequent assessments, "big data" and linkage studies to become possible for this age group. The proposed project aims to develop an app in partnership with the industry partner, Mindwave Ventures. The app will aim to measure and record a domain of infant development such as activity levels and motor skills. Current measurement options for most infant psychological domains are highly limited for large samples. The project will aim to test and pilot the new app and validate it against existing measures.