In Brief

The Challenge

As wearable devices become increasingly prevalent, with nearly 2/3 of the population using them daily, the collection of biometric data has the potential to provide valuable insights into population health. However, multinational corporations currently control this data, limiting access and hindering its potential for broader applications.  

The Solution

The Cerberus project is a citizen science initiative that addresses this issue by validating wearable device accuracy, centralizing available research, and evaluating stakeholder perceptions of wearables' capabilities and appropriate usage. This project aims to engage end-users, researchers, and healthcare professionals to create a public databank for wearable device data, empowering users to donate their biometric data and receive insights on it. By doing so, Cerberus seeks to unlock the potential of wearables for disease detection, health monitoring, and personalized health improvement, ultimately democratizing data access and control. 

The project website is www.wearablewatchdog.com. 

The Team

  • Team Lead: Dr Cailbhe Doherty, University College Dublin  
  • Team Co-Lead: Dr Rob Argent, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science

Societal Impact Champion

  • Gary Ryan, Sport Ireland Institute