PACE Mobile Phone Research Projects

PACE started investigating the use of mobile phones as an extension of its web-based interventions with three formative studies conducted in 2004.  Together with Computer Science Professor William Griswold’s students, PACE built several proof-of-concept prototypes and completed small, uncontrolled pilot studies. PACE also completed focus groups with target populations to assess cell phone preferences and usage. This initial work helped establish which functions are preferable and desired for a mobile application.

mPace enabled users to set goals, record fruit and vegetable consumption (as servings/day), record physical activity in two categories (cardiovascular and strength building), and assess progress towards their goals.

mPace

mPace SMS was designed to encourage communications amongst study participants with the goals of building a peer support network and increasing compliance with the intervention.  Users could send SMS (text) messages to other group members asking for help or offering suggestions.  The application also enabled the user to compare his/her performance with the group’s average.  An interesting observation of the study was the steady increase in the group average over the two week period as individual users strived to beat the average.

mPace SMS

CaloricBalance used an estimate of the user’s resting metabolic rate to compute and present an estimate of the calories burned vs. consumed throughout the day.  The goal was for users to adjust their daily behavior based on an awareness of their current caloric balance.

CaloricBalance

In 2005, PACE launched a clinical trial of the BBeat web-based intervention for teens at risk for diabetes.  The BBeat mobile application extends the website and lets teens use their phone to update their food diary and physical activity log anytime during the day.   The mobile application enables the entry of user’s pedometer step counts and food servings into the BBeat database server as well as reviewing the user’s current challenge and weight history. Prompts and reminders are sent to the users as text messages. 

  

BBeat Mobile Application

In 2006, PACE developed PmEB, a mobile phone application that allows users to self-monitor caloric balance in real time in far greater detail than BBeat.  PmEB enables the user to view current caloric balance, enter calorie intake and expenditure, lookup food and activity information, see a history of past entries, and set the time for daily reminder prompts. 

                BBeat Mobile Application

For PmEB, PACE developed an extensive 4 phase methodology for evaluating and improving the usability of mobile applications. 

  

PmEB

Pace is currently developing mDiet, a mobile intervention focusing on dietary improvements through personalized goal-setting and targeted SMS (text) messages.