New Scientist

Dartmouth College professor Andrew Campbell and colleagues recently conducted a 10-week experiment with 48 students to see if data gathered from their smartphones could be used to gauge their states of mind, and their likelihood to excel or struggle academically. The researchers developed the StudentLife app to track readings from smartphone sensors in such areas as physical activity levels, sleep patterns, frequency and duration of conversations, and global-positioning system location. Students who excelled interacted frequently with other people and have longer conversations, while depressed students were less social with others and exhibited excessive or disrupted sleep patterns. To read further, please visit http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329863.300-failing-students-saved-by-stressdetecting-app.html#.VChDqOc2SnA.