Academic research on the dynamics of close-range interaction between people

What is this App?

This App has been developed by the PoliTo Complex System Lab to study the dynamics of close-range interaction between people.

Our goal is to model and identify the dynamics of interactions in real-world contexts using temporal network frameworks.

How does it work?

This App will use the Bluetooth antenna of your smartphone to infer the distance to other participants’ phones without interfering with the normal use of any other device such as earphones, smartwatches, etc. and to collect the interaction time and intensity through the analysis of the Bluetooth signal.

The app interface is essential and is optimized to save battery life and guarantee the normal performance of your phone.

All data are anonymised and securely stored in servers at the Polytechnic of Torino.

Why the Google access?

The app uses Firebase, a Google service that helps us granting a secure data transmission between your device and our servers. No data is handed to Google or third parties in any way.

How will data be transmitted to our servers?

We give you the option to turn on and off the Bluetooth data collection and the option to send data to our server only through WiFi or using your mobile plan.

What will you do with the data?

All the data will be analysed and anonymously used for research activity in the field of temporal networks and interaction dynamics.

Contacts:

PoliTo Complex System Laboratory

Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy

[email protected]

Head of Laboratory: Professor Alessandro Rizzo

Realized by: Hugo Ramon Pascual, Francesco Vincenzo Surano

Funded under the projects:

• “Hacking a complex world: unraveling the machanism underlying complex social and technological phenomena”, awarded by Compagnia di San Paolo.

• “Macro to Micro: uncovering the hidden mechanisms driving network dynamics” (Mac2Mic), awarded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the framework of the bilateral Italy-Israel scientific cooperation agreement.