{"id":10663,"date":"2023-02-03T14:25:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T14:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/m-path.io\/manual\/?post_type=ht_kb&p=10663"},"modified":"2026-04-17T08:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T08:18:28","slug":"mobile-sensing-full","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/app-manual-wp-001-atfsdabuggg7fzdq.germanywestcentral-01.azurewebsites.net\/knowledge-base\/mobile-sensing-full\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile Sensing (full)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is only possible to use mobile sensing when you have the mobile sensing full add on. This must be purchased on top of the Standard or Comfort subscription. Please contact m-Path for pricing (contact@m-path.io<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article explains how to use mobile or passive sensing in m-Path. Full sensing essentially means that the sensing is continuous, so that the sensors are recording data even when the app is in the background. In mobile sensing lite, the sensors are only used during a questionnaire. The differences with mobile sensing lite are explained here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Full Sensing vs Sensing Lite<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The sensors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The available sensors are shown in the following table. However, it is not necessary to collect data from all these sensors. The researcher can choose which sensor data to collect. Some sensors are periodic (researcher can choose the period), while others are event based (new data entry is created in case of a specific event). The exact data output for each sensor is described here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type of data<\/strong><\/td>Description<\/strong><\/td>Android<\/strong><\/td>iOS<\/strong><\/td>Periodic or event<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/strong><\/td>GPS coordinates every minute.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Event for iOS (every 10 meter moved), periodic for Android<\/td><\/tr>
Device<\/strong><\/td>Information about your device (e.g.: name, version, available working memory, battery level).<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Weather<\/strong><\/td>Weather and air quality from the internet based on current location.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Pedometer<\/strong><\/td>Number of steps according to the pedometer of your mobile phone.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Activity<\/strong><\/td>Number of minutes walking, cycling, driving, etc.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Event (change of activity such as still or walking)<\/td><\/tr>
Screen<\/strong><\/td>Time of screen on\/off\/unlocked events.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u274c<\/td>Event (with screen off or on).<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>Amount of battery left, if battery is charging or not.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Event (e.g. starting to start charging)<\/td><\/tr>
App usage<\/strong><\/td>Usage time per app since the last measurement.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u274c<\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/strong><\/td>Connected to Wi-Fi or data.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Event (e.g. connecting to Wi-Fi)<\/td><\/tr>
WIFI<\/strong><\/td>Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Periodic accelerometer<\/strong><\/td>Accelerometer (acceleration)<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Light<\/strong><\/td>Light sensor, amount of light (in lux)<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u274c<\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Memory<\/strong><\/td>The free physical memory and free virtual memory.<\/td>\u2714<\/mark><\/td>\u274c<\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Bluetooth<\/strong><\/td>Information about Bluetooth devices in your area (e.g.: name, ID, signal strength)<\/td>(only when app in foreground, better to use Sense Lite)<\/td>(only when app in foreground, better to use Sense Lite)<\/td>Periodic<\/td><\/tr>
Ambient noise<\/strong><\/td>Volume (in decibels) of ambient noise. No audio is saved.<\/td>Only during questionnaire (see Sense Lite)<\/td>Only during questionnaire (see Sense Lite)<\/td>n.a.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
All sensor data that can be collected with m-Path Sense.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The m-Path Sense app<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To use mobile sensing, participants need to download the m-Path Sense app in the App Store or in the Play Store. The difference with the normal app is that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. m-Path Sense allows for using sensors in the background<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. m-Path Sense asks all permissions (with relation to the sensors) when the app starts for the first time<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Android app<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the following video, the set-up of the Android app is shown. In the Android app, users will be able to see an m-Path Sense notification on top of the screen. This will inform them that the app is actually running. This notification however only works when location is gathered. It is therefore better to include location in the sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n