Sophia Walsh

sw9914@bristol.ac.uk

Year 2 Student – 2022 Intake – Cohort 4

My academic background started with a joint honours BSc in Chemistry and Law followed by an LLM in International Law. After some years working in compliance and running my own business, my interest in the effect of online activity on offline behaviour led me to taking a MSc in Experimental Psychology (Conversion). The focus of my dissertation was broad scale psychological interventions to limit the effect of online disinformation. Seeing the significant impact that psychological interventions online can have on offline behaviour made me keen to explore this online / offline interface / interaction in the wider context of cyber security.  

PhD Projects

Wearable Sensors. What Happens to the Data?

Wearable devices can be used as lifestyle enhancers, allowing users to set, measure and monitor health and fitness goals by providing personalised and immediate feedback based on data obtained via various sensors embedded in the device.  This data is instrumental in modelling and inferring physiological and psychological well-being, providing valuable support for individuals in managing their health. However, the collection of this data raises several privacy and security concerns for users and carries broader implications for society.

Considering the growing adoption of wearables as digital diagnostic tools, my research aims to investigate how users can be effectively informed about the data collected and generated by these devices. I aim to employ various methods to explore and understand users’ perceptions and comprehension of the smart-wearable ecosystem, and as well as their attitudes toward data collection and use. Leveraging these insights, I will collaborate with diverse stakeholders to co-create a potential solution that empowers users to make informed decisions.

Supervisors: 

Dr Marvin Ramokapane (Bristol)

Dr Lukasz Piwek (Bath)

PhD Poster

View poster here

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