Virtual Visioning Workshop | Advancing Social and Behavioral Science via Open Source Infrastructure for Research Using Smart Devices | September 8

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invites participation from social and behavioral scientists across the country to further develop an open-source digital platform that makes it easy for scientists to produce research-focused smart devices such as mobile apps and smart watches. The platform will empower social and behavioral scientists to collect rich and novel data about human behavior in natural settings with a wide array of research capacities.

On Sept. 8, the UIUC Center for Social and Behavioral Science will host a virtual workshop on advancing social and behavioral science via an open-source infrastructure for research using smart devices. Researchers will be given opportunities to do the following:

  • Learn about the full power of smart device use for social-behavioral science research
  • Provide input on the features and functions of the open-source technology
  • Shape the future of social and behavioral science research via smart technology.

The workshop will focus on developing a vision for an open-source platform that reflects the priorities, challenges, and needs of the social and behavioral science community for the research capacities of smart devices. To support this visioning, Jim Rehg, Director of the Health Care Engineering Systems Center and Founder Professor of Computer Science and Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering at UIUC, will give a presentation on the promise and challenges of using smart devices in social and behavioral science. Discussion sessions will follow.

Date and Time

Friday, September 8
9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 

Tentative Schedule

9 – 9:15 – General introduction and vision
9:15 – 9:45- The promise and challenge of using smart devices in social and behavioral science, Jim Rehg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9:45 – 10- Questions and discussion with Jim Rehg
10 – 10:30 – Breakout group discussion 1: Visioning
10:30 – 10:45 – Break
10:45 – 11 – Reporting back and group discussion
11 – 11:30 – Breakout group discussion 2: Hurdles and needs
11:30 – 12 – Reporting back and group discussion
12 – 12:15 – Next steps and closing