Using wearable cameras to investigate health-related daily life experiences: A literature review of precautions and risks in empirical studies

Automated, wearable cameras can benefit health-related research by capturing accurate and objective information about individuals’ daily experiences. However, wearable cameras present unique privacy- and confidentiality-related risks due to the possibility of the images capturing identifying or sensitive information from participants and third parties. Although best practice guidelines for ethical research with wearable cameras have been published, limited information exists on the risks of studies using wearable cameras. The aim of this literature review was to survey risks related to using wearable cameras, and precautions taken to reduce those risks, as reported in empirical research. Forty-five publications, comprising 36 independent studies, were reviewed, and findings revealed that participants’ primary concerns with using wearable cameras included physical inconvenience and discomfort in certain situations (e.g. public settings). None of the studies reviewed reported any serious adverse events. Although it is possible that reported findings do not include all risks experienced by participants in research with wearable cameras, our findings suggest a low level of risk to participants. However, it is important that investigators adopt recommended precautions, which can promote autonomy and reduce risks, including participant discomfort.

Evaluation of Wearable Cameras for Monitoring and Analyzing Calf Behavior: A Preliminary Study

Understanding cattle behavior is important for discerning their health and management status. However, manual observations of cattle are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, during manual observations, the presence or position of a human observer may alter the normal behavior of the cattle. Wearable cameras are small and lightweight; therefore, they do not disturb cattle behavior when attached to their bodies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the suitability of wearable cameras for monitoring and analyzing cattle behavior. From December 18 to 27, 2017, this study used four 2-month-old, group-housed Holstein calves at the Field Science Center of the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan. Calf behavior was recorded every 30 s using a wearable camera (HX-A1H, Panasonic, Japan) from 10:00 to 15:30 and observed directly from 11:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:00. In addition, the same observer viewed the camera recordings corresponding to the direct observation periods, and the results were compared. The correlation coefficients of all behavioral data from direct and wearable camera video observations were significant (p < 0.01). We conclude that wearable cameras are suitable for observing calf behavior, particularly their posture (standing or lying), as well as their ruminating and feeding behaviors.

Using Wearable Cameras to Categorise Type and Context of Screen-based Behaviours among Adolescents (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Automated wearable cameras present a new opportunity to accurately assess human behaviour. However, this technology is seldom used in the study of adolescent’s screen exposure and the field is reliant on poor quality, self-report data. OBJECTIVE To examine adolescents’ screen exposure by categorising the type and context of behaviours using automated wearable cameras. METHODS Adolescents (15.4 ± 1.6 years; n=10) wore a camera for three school evenings and one weekend day. The camera captured an image every 10 seconds. Fieldwork was completed between February and March 2020, and data analysed in August 2020. Images were date and time-stamped and coded for screen type, content, and context. RESULTS Data representing 71,396 images were analysed. Overall, 74% of images contained screens and 16.8% of total images contained multiple screens. Most screen exposure involved television sets (36.3% of images), smartphones (29.2%), and laptop computers (21.4%). The context of screen use differed by device type, although most screen exposure occurred at home (96.3%) and with solitary engagement (83.9%). The immediate after-school period saw high laptop computer use (30%), while smartphone use (38.7%) peaked in the middle evening and pre-bedtime hours, respectively. Weekend screen exposure was high, with smartphone use (55.5%) peaking in the early morning period and fluctuating throughout the day. CONCLUSIONS There was evidence for high screen use during the after-school and weekend period, mostly through solitary engagement, and within the home environment. Findings may inform the basis of larger studies aimed at examining screen exposure in free-living conditions.

The Frequency and Context of Snacking among Children: An Objective Analysis Using Wearable Cameras

Snacking is a common eating behaviour, but there is little objective data about children’s snacking. We aimed to determine the frequency and context of children’s snacking (n = 158; mean age = 12.6 years) by ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic deprivation and body mass index (BMI) children. Participants wore wearable cameras that passively captured images of their surroundings every seven seconds. Images (n = 739,162) were coded for snacking episodes, defined as eating occasions in between main meals. Contextual factors analysed included: snacking location, food source, timing, social contact and screen use. Rates of total, discretionary (not recommended for consumption) and healthful (recommended for consumption) snacking were calculated using negative binomial regression. On average, children consumed 8.2 (95%CI 7.4, 9.1) snacks per day, of which 5.2 (95%CI 4.6, 5.9) were discretionary foods/beverages. Children consumed more discretionary snacks than healthful snacks in each setting and at all times, including 15.0× more discretionary snacks in public spaces and 2.4× more discretionary snacks in schools. Most snacks (68.9%) were sourced from home. Girls consumed more total, discretionary and healthful snacks than boys, and Māori and Pacific consumed fewer healthful snacks than New Zealand (NZ) Europeans. Results show that children snack frequently, and that most snacking involves discretionary food items. Our findings suggest targeting home buying behaviour and environmental changes to support healthy snacking choices.