What is SensorKit?

 

What are the device/OS requirements for participation in SensorKit data collection?

 

Do I have to enable SensorKit data collection to participate in the Intern Health Study?

 

Can I disable SensorKit and still remain in the study?

 

What information is collected/not collected through SensorKit?

 

Will SensorKit affect my phone’s performance (e.g. battery life)?

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How do I enable SensorKit?

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How do I disable SensorKit?

 

Where do I go for technical support?

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What is SensorKit?

 

Apple Sensorkit is a new and highly secure framework that will allow us to retrieve additional passive data and metrics from an iPhone’s sensors (e.g. keyboard usage patterns, ambient light). We believe this is a promising new avenue for capturing novel passive data that could critically inform the development of real-time interventions to improve physician well-being.

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In order to obtain an objective measure of your activity, we will request to access additional sensor and usage data already collected via your iPhone or Apple Watch (not applicable for Android users). All data would be transferred securely from your device via the MyDataHelps app, designed specifically for research use. Prior to the collection of any SensorKit data, you will be presented with detailed information and explicitly asked for permission to access each individual data type via your iPhone. Granting access to SensorKit data is completely optional and will not affect your participation in the study.

 

What are the device/OS requirements for participation in SensorKit data collection?

 

Sensorkit is only available for iPhone users with iOS 14.0 or later. SensorKit is not available for Android users. 

 

Do I have to enable SensorKit data collection to participate in the Intern Health Study?

 

NO - Granting access to SensorKit data is completely optional and will not affect your participation in the study.

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Can I disable SensorKit and still remain in the study?

 

Yes, enabling Apple SensorKit is an optional part of the study and you can disable SensorKit on your iPhone at any time. See "How do I disable Sensorkit?" below.

 

What information is collected/not collected through SensorKit?

 

There are seven sensors collected through Apple SensorKit. You can control the data types you share with the study and can stop sharing at any time. Each data type is detailed below under #5 of "How do I enable SensorKit?"

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Will SensorKit affect my phone’s performance (e.g. battery life)?

 

No. Enabling SensorKit data collection will not affect your phone performance in any way (no additional notifications, no change in battery life, etc.) You can check what percentage of your battery the app is using by going to     "Settings'' → "Battery". Usage should be minimal to nothing.

 

How do I enable SensorKit?

 

1. Open the MyDataHelps app on your iPhone.

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2. If not already logged in - select “Login" (top right). 

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3. Enter email (or phone #) and password used to sign up for the study.

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Forgot your email/password? Email us at intern_health@med.umich.edu and we can provide the email and issue a password reset.

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4. Go to your Activities tab and find “SensorKit - Request Permissions” in your Task list. 

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5. SensorKit Permissions: You will be navigated to Settings on your iPhone and guided through 7 types of sensors, each with full descriptions of the type of data collected if enabled (descriptions also detailed below). For each sensor type, you will have the option to “Allow Collection & Sharing” or “Don’t Allow Collection & Sharing.”

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a) Device Usage

What is NOT collected:

• The specific names of apps you download and use from the App Store

• The content of your notifications

• The address of web pages you visit

• While on a website, any transactions you make, files you download, or data you enter.

 

What IS collected:​​

• The types of apps you use, the number of unique apps you use, how long you use them, and how often you return to the same app.

• The number of notifications you receive, the type of app that sent them, and if you interact with them.

• The type of websites you visit such as Travel, News, or Weather and how long you're on a site.

• The number of times you unlock your iPhone or pick up your iPhone and the approximate time of day.

• Whether or not text has been input into an app along with the type of input such as keyboard, Apple Pencil, or dictation.

• The amount of times a device is charging. 

• How often and for how long you're actively using a device.

• The type of motion or activity you're doing such as walking or biking.

 

b) Environmental Brightness & Color

What is NOT collected:

• Any images or videos from any cameras in your devices

 

What IS collected:​​

• Brightness or color measurements from the light sensors in your devices. Data like this can be used to identify the space you're in.

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c) Keyboard Usage
 

What is NOT collected:

• Any of the words you type including anything entered into a secure field such as a login or password.

• Any information about keyboard extensions or stickers. 

 

What IS collected:​​

• The length of words you type or swipe, your speed, your accuracy, and the kind of errors you make.

• Data about the keyboard, its orientation, and your screen size.

• The number of words and emoji you type that convey emotion.

 

d) Message Usage

 

What is NOT collected:

• The names or phone numbers of people you've messaged.

• Text, video, audio, or images from any message.
   

What IS collected:

• The total number of messages during different parts of the day.

• The number of individuals you message

 

e) Phone Usage
 

What is NOT collected:

• The names or phone numbers of people you've talked to.

• Any audio from any call.

 

What IS collected:

• The number of incoming and outgoing calls each day.

• The number of people you've contacted but none of their personal information such as a name or phone number.

 

f) Frequently Visited Locations
 

What is NOT collected:

• GPS or specific location information.

• Names of the places you've visited.

• Addresses including home or work.

 

What IS collected:

• Frequently visited locations but only after they are given an anonymized identifier.

• The distance of an anonymized location from your home.

• Arrival and departure times that are expanded to 15-minute increments to make them less specific.

 

g) Speech Metrics
 

What is NOT collected:

• The raw audio of, or words used in, your conversations.

• Audio or data from the person you're talking with.

 

What IS collected:

• Data about your voice such as tenor, pitch, and cadence when using an app that transmits or records your speech including Phone, Facetime, or third-party apps. This may include average words per minute, averages pause length, and characteristics of your speech.

• Whether or not sounds such as laughing or shouting were detected during these calls and sessions.

 

How do I disable SensorKit?

To review or change your permissions, you can follow the instructions below to revisit at any time:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone

2. Scroll down and select “Privacy” or “Privacy & Security” (depending on iOS version)

3. Go to “Research Sensor & Usage Data”

 

 

Where do I go for technical support?

 

If you have any questions about Apple SensorKit, contact the study team at  intern_health@med.umich.edu.