Over the next two years, researchers at CTF, Service Research Center at Karlstad University, will investigate how the Internet of Things, IoT, can be used in creating a better school environment and improving student health. The project will be carried out together with a number of actors and is based on a secondary school in Arvika Municipality, Sweden.
The focus of the project is to find out how IoT can measure children’s and young people’s health at school. Today, these measurements are done by interviews and surveys.
"We will try to match the technical possibilities of IoT together with the student health service’s needs, and at the same time monitor integrity issues. Our goal is to map out what data the future system can deliver, and how this could help student health services to create value and well-being for the students," says project manager Erik Wästlund, associate professor of Psychology.
Computer Science and Nursing at Karlstad University are also involved in the project, and it is carried out in collaboration with Arvika Municipality, DigitalWell Arena, Swegon, Serneke and Scaaler IoT Labs.
Increase students' health in school
"Mental illness among children and young people are increasing, and school is one of the contributing factors. In the project, CTF along with the other actors, will test how the IoT- technology can be used to verify if the physical and psychosocial school environment is good, and help implement measures when deviating values arise," says Christian Persman, development manager, Arvika Municipality.
It is common to measure physical activity and health using new technology among adults, which researchers at CTF have studied extensively.
"When it comes to measuring health linked to study environment or study performance it is not that common. We hope that our research can contribute to both an increased societal benefit and to the scientific literature," says Erik Wästlund.
"This project is a result of CTF's and Karlstad University's work within the Academy for Smart Specialization and DigitalWell Arena that link research, innovation and education together to strengthen the business and the public sector in Värmland," Erik Wästlund concludes.
The project is a part of the collaborative project "IoT for sustainable societal benefit and a better life for everyone in an interconnected world". It is run by Arvika municipality until 2022 as part of the strategic innovation program for the Internet of Things (IoT Sweden), a joint venture by Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency.
