“13 Reasons Why” is just one of several widely successful shows to hit our screens in recent years that contains portrayals of suicide, sparking concerns from experts about the potential impact on vulnerable viewers. In a new paper, University of South Australia researchers have confirmed that portrayals of suicide in moving-image fiction and non-fiction media, […]
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Smartphone app to screen for early signs of dementia
Testing for dementia among elderly could one day be as simple as talking into a smartphone thanks to speech-analyzing technology being developed by engineers at UNSW Sydney. An app that uses machine learning technology will look at paralinguistic features of a person’s speech—such as prosody, pitch, volume and intonation—as well as testing memory recall. Dr. […]
Promoting low-sugar drinks on touch screen menus encourages customers to make healthier choices
Fast food diners can be encouraged to make healthier choices by changing the position of items on the menu, a study has found. Research led by Warwick Business School, in conjunction with McDonald’s, showed customers could be persuaded to choose less sugary soft drinks by changing the order they appeared on the touch-screen kiosks. The […]
Researchers are using machine learning to screen for autism in children
For more than five years, researchers from Duke Engineering and the Duke University School of Medicine have been working toward creating an app that can help screen for autism in young children. With results from the first pilot study rolling in just last year, their work is leading to new insights about autism spectrum disorder […]
Children’s sleep not significantly affected by screen time, new study finds
Screen-time has little impact on the quality of children’s sleep, according to new Oxford University research. Screens are now a fixture of modern childhood. And as young people spend an increasing amount of time on electronic devices, the effects of these digital activities has become a prevalent concern among parents, caregivers, and policy-makers. Research indicating […]
Osteoporosis, fracture risk predicted with genetic screen
A new genetic screen may predict a person’s future risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture, according to a study by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Specifically, the study, one of the largest of its kind, identified 899 regions in the human genome associated with low bone-mineral density, 613 of which have […]
Study shows link between teens’ copious amounts of screen time and ADHD
What with all the swiping, scrolling, snap-chatting, surfing and streaming that consume the adolescent mind, an American parent might well watch his or her teen and wonder whether any sustained thought is even possible. New research supports that worry, suggesting that teens who spend more time toggling among a growing number of digital media platforms […]