
Mr Chris Stone
BSc(Hons), FIAP, AFBPsS, RSci
Current positions
Senior Research Associate in Wearable Technology Application Development
School of Psychological Science
Contact
Press and media
Many of our academics speak to the media as experts in their field of research. If you are a journalist, please contact the University’s Media and PR Team:
Research interests
Chris has a background in software systems development with extensive experience of the information systems industry and previous involvement in psychology and vision research. After initially graduating in psychology he worked for Professor Richard Gregory as a research assistant in the Brain and Perception Laboratory at the University of Bristol, investigating visual illusions and phenomena at isoluminance. His major project was the development of a computerised colour vision testing system which used heterochromatic flicker photometry to measure red/green hue discrimination; this system was installed in Bristol Eye Hospital and featured on the BBC’s “Tomorrow’s World” programme [published as "A New Computer Graphics Test for Red/Green Colour Anomaly"; Heard, Stone, Gregory and Marmion (1987), Colour Vision Deficiencies, vol.8]. During his subsequent career in information systems, he worked in fields including medical laboratory systems, nuclear power station management information systems, and the commercial sector; eventually becoming a Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers. A significant part of his career was his role in a global media and publishing company where he led a team of senior developers and business analysts and undertook investigations of business system problems around the company's European operations, designing developing and implementing IT solutions. Chris joined the School of Experimental Psychology as an honorary member of staff in May 2011 to provide systems development expertise for research projects, primarily in the field of vision research. This involved (in collaboration with a researcher at the University of Cambridge) development of a software package which uses a computer model of visual processing to analyse differences between images and evaluate the conspicuity of objects, with application to railway signal safety, and constructing an interface to allow non-technical users to access and operate this model. Currently he is a Senior Research Associate in the Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, using wearable technology to develop innovative methods of capturing lifestyle health behaviour data "in-the-wild", with a view to developing targeted "just-in-time" health interventions. Recent projects include the "stopWatch" (patented) system for passive detection of cigarette smoking, and "dataWatch", a researcher-customisable system for the active capture of behavioural data using ecological momentary assessment.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
StopWatch - passive detection of smoking
Role
Researcher
Description
StopWatch (patent pending) is a smartwatch-based system for passive detection of cigarette smoking. It uses data from the motion sensors in a commercially available smartwatch, and identifies smoking events by…Managing organisational unit
School of Psychological ScienceDates
24/09/2015
Head Mounted Display calibration
Role
Researcher
Description
Calibration of an immersive virtual reality head-mounted display, and associated movement tracking software, for use as a vision research tool.Managing organisational unit
School of Psychological ScienceDates
01/01/2013
Foraging Laboratory control software
Role
Researcher
Description
A suite of software to facilitate studies of development of foraging strategies at the Bristol Cognitive Development Centre.Managing organisational unit
School of Psychological ScienceDates
01/01/2012
Visual Difference Predictor software package
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
This software uses a model of visual processing, developed by David Tolhurst at the University of Cambridge, to provide a quantitative evaluation of conspicuity. The package is designed to…Managing organisational unit
School of Psychological ScienceDates
10/05/2011
Publications
Selected publications
24/01/2018StopWatch
Nicotine and Tobacco Research
New technology and novel methods for capturing health-related data in longitudinal and cohort studies
New technology and novel methods for capturing health-related data in longitudinal and cohort studies
Smoking status and attractiveness among exemplar and prototypical identical twins discordant for smoking
Royal Society Open Science
Method and device for detecting a smoking gesture
A new computer graphics test for red/green colour anomaly
Colour Vision Deficiencies
Recent publications
25/03/2025Smartwatch-based Ecological Momentary Assessment for high temporal density longitudinal measurement of alcohol use (‘AlcoWatch’)
JMIR Formative Research
Accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours over 7 days in Malaysian children and adolescents
PLoS ONE
Presenting and Evaluating a Smartwatch-Based Intervention for Smoking Relapse (StopWatch)
JMIR Formative Research
AlcoWatch - Exploring the feasibility of using smartwatch-based Ecological Momentary Assessment for high temporal density longitudinal measurement of alcohol use
AlcoWatch - Exploring the feasibility of using smartwatch-based Ecological Momentary Assessment for high temporal density longitudinal measurement of alcohol use
Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a smartwatch-based smoking relapse intervention ('StopWatch')
Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a smartwatch-based smoking relapse intervention ('StopWatch')