KENNESAW, Ga. | Jan 16, 2025

The answer to leading healthcare issues may be sitting in the pockets of millions nationwide.

Researchers in Kennesaw State University’s mHealth Research Lab are looking to innovate the healthcare marketplace by developing mHealth systems (apps) that can be accessed on a standard smartphone. Launched last year by Nazmus Sakib, an assistant professor of information technology in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, the lab has been active in developing applications to combat unregulated screen addiction challenges among children and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias.

“From day one, our goal was to translate critical research findings into practical, usable applications that can address pressing healthcare problems,” Sakib said.

Sakib’s vision has led the lab to embark on several impactful projects, each addressing unique needs within the healthcare landscape.

One of the lab's notable initiatives is the ScreenSafeFuture project, which aims to address screen addiction challenges in infants and toddlers. The application is designed around four critical features: an AI-assisted personalized non-screen activity advocator, an educational repository, a screen time tracking dashboard, and a digital reward system.

The non-screen activity suggestions are personalized based on user data, research, and guidelines, encouraging healthy cognitive and emotional development through alternative activities. The educational repository empowers parents with research-based insights and daily educational push, translating complex findings into practical guidance. Screen time tracking allows parents to monitor and set boundaries for screen use, while the digital reward system incentivizes healthy media habits, gamifying engagement to encourage positive behaviors.

By leveraging smartphone accessibility, ScreenSafeFuture provides practical support for busy families, enabling them to promote healthy media habits and limit screen time for infants and toddlers, ultimately promoting cognitive and emotional development.

Another significant effort is the lab's SafeCircle project, which focuses on monitoring and supporting patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). The project uses advanced AI and micro-radar technology to accurately detect falls and wandering, addressing common safety concerns for this population. Unlike traditional monitoring systems that compromise privacy and are often costly, SafeCircle is designed to be user-friendly and cost-effective, using micro-radar signals that pose no health risks. Its smartphone-based platform offers alerts and a 30-second video for context, significantly improving the caregiving experience by allowing immediate responses and reducing false positives.

“We aim to create practical solutions for remote monitoring of fall and wandering behaviors, with the ultimate goal of developing these into market-ready products,” Sakib said.

By providing precise monitoring and facilitating better caregiver support, SafeCircle has the potential to impact AD/ADRD care. The system aims to enhance patient safety and independence while alleviating the emotional, physical, and financial stress experienced by caregivers, thereby improving the quality of life for families dealing with AD/ADRD. This project has recently been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In addition to these projects, the mHealth Lab is also working on DigiMindReady, a project aimed at enhancing digital readiness for military personnel. This initiative, in partnership with KSU’s Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services (AMES), underscores the lab’s commitment to addressing diverse and critical needs through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Brian Moore, director of the AMES Center, said “Dr. Sakib’s work in the mHealth lab has been instrumental to recent AMES Research Center grant applications and collaboration expansion. His willingness to engage with diverse populations who can benefit from his work is remarkable. This was evident in work completed by Mehedi Hasan, who undertook a massive effort to understand how an offline mHealth system could be tailored to enhance performance in military personnel and tactical athletes.”

The mHealth Research Lab’s innovative work is supported by a mix of funding sources, including National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Security Agency (NSA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), College of Computing and Software Engineering. Looking ahead, Sakib and his team will continue contributing to advancing computing research to improve people's quality of life.

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.