Purpose of the Study
The research is part of a larger industry project for a smartphone application called UN1Q aimed at developing computer vision technology to:
1. Identify postural and mobility defects using the front facing camera of a smartphone.
2. Measure Body Composition, in particular body fat percentage, visually using the smartphone camera
The data will be used to train artificial intelligence technology that will be integrated with the smartphone application. In addition to providing data for the computer vision application the data will also allow us to research a potential relationship between postural problems and mobility issues to determine if the two are related as well as understanding the prevalence of these issues in the general population.
Why have I been invited?
The study is aimed at all independently ambulant individuals aged 16-65.
You can take part in the study if you meet the following conditions:
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You are not pregnant.
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You do not feel chest pain at rest or when you do physical activity.
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You do not lose balance because of dizziness.
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You have not lost consciousness in the last 12 months.
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You do not have any uncontrolled medical condition such as hypertension or diabetes.
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You do not have chronic heart failure or irregular heart beat requiring medication.
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You have not, within the last 12 months been diagnosed with a bone, joint or soft tissue problem that could be made worse by light physical activity.
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If you have 2 or more medical conditions you will need medical clearance before participating in the study.
No prior exercise experience is required. The movements undertaken in the study are basic movements that are part of daily activities such as squatting or bending over. Your involvement will help provide meaningful insights into the analysis of posture and movement.
What will my participation involve?
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Your height, weight and body composition will be measured.
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Still images of your posture and body shape will be captured. (Women should wear a sports bra or form-fitting crop top underneath any top worn).
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You will be instructed and asked to perform a series of exercises (such as squats, lunges, or other movements).
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Your performance will be recorded on video to capture your movement patterns.
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The session will take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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A physiotherapist will provide instructions on how to perform each exercise safely.
What are the potential benefits and risks?
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Information on a professional assessment of your weight, BMI and body composition analysis.
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Information on your postural analysis conducted by a trained physiotherapist.
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Receiving guided instruction on 11 basic movements such as the squat and lunge which everyone should know how to perform correctly.
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Contribution to research that may improve exercise practices and inform injury prevention strategies.
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Participation is reimbursed with €15 paid by Revolut.
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Participation will also be rewarded with a 25% discount on a 1 year subscription to the commercial application once it is launched.
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There are minimal risks involved, comparable to those encountered in regular exercise activities. If you experience discomfort or fatigue, you may stop at any time. The research team will monitor your safety during the session.
How should I prepare for the session?
To ensure accurate measurement of your body composition:​
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Ideally wear form fitting gym clothing and shorts for the session.
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Avoid alcohol consumption on the day preceding the sesssion
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Avoid strenuous exercise performance on the day of the session.
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Do not consume large quantities of food or drink on the day of the session
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Stop eating 3 hours before the session start time.
Additionally prior to the session you will be asked to empty your bladder and remove any metal and jewelry
Prior to the session you will be asked to sign a consent form that can be found below.
What will happen to my data?
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Data Collection and Storage
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We will collect images of your posture and video recordings of your exercise performance.
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All recordings will be stored on secure, password-protected cloud servers accessible only by the research team.
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The data will be retained for a maximum of 5 years, after which it will be securely deleted. All data will be deleted by June 2030.
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No data will be stored on physical devices such as laptops, desktops or portable memory storage.
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Confidentiality
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Only the researchers and computer vision engineers will have access to the data we collect. These are bound by strict privacy and confidentiality agreements.This access is restricted, monitored and tightly controlled for your privacy.
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All data will be treated confidentially. Your identity will be anonymized in all research outputs (e.g., reports, publications).
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If we wish to use identifiable footage (e.g., showing your face) in presentations or publications, we will ask for your additional consent via a media release form.
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Use of Data
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Your image and video data will only be used for training artificial intelligence technology and for research purposes.
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The findings from this study may be published in journals or presented at conferences, but your identity will not be disclosed unless you provide explicit permission.
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The data will not be shared with third parties or used for any commercial purposes.
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Will my participation be kept confidential?
Yes, your participation will remain confidential. Any personal information that could identify you (e.g., face in videos) will be anonymized or blurred unless you provide explicit consent otherwise. We will follow all legal requirements, including those under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or other relevant data protection laws, to protect your data.
What if i want to withdraw?
Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any point during or after the study, without needing to give a reason. If you choose to withdraw, all data relating to your participation (including video recordings) will be deleted upon your request.
What will happen to the results of the research?
The results will be used to:
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Train artificial intelligence technology to identify normal and abnormal posture whilst standing or performing basic movements.
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Produce academic publications, conference presentations, or reports. No individual participants will be identified in any of these outputs. If you are interested, we can share a summary of the research findings with you.
Who is organising and funding the research?
The research is being funded by the European Union and Xjenza Malta through it’s Technology Development Program Lite grant.
Who has reviewed this study?
This study has been reviewed and approved by Research Ethics Committee of the University of Malta to ensure that it meets ethical standards.
