Privacy Policy for KINNECT

Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Introduction

The University of Pittsburgh research team ("We" or "Us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of research participants. This Privacy Policy explains how the KINNECT watchOS application ("App") collects, uses, and safeguards data as part of research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. This App is designed to capture dyadic interactions (e.g., between parent and child) in daily life to enhance our understanding of how relationship dynamics impact health.

This App is intended solely for use by enrolled study participants who have provided informed consent (or whose parent/legal guardian has provided informed consent) under the oversight of the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (e.g., IRB Study #STUDY26040013).

1. Data Collection and Usage

The KINNECT App is a research tool designed to use passive sensor data (e.g., proximity- and voice-detection) to detect parent-child interactions. The App collects the following types of data, as authorized by the study protocol:

Physical Proximity: We use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals between watches worn by both members of a dyad (e.g., parent and child) to determine when participants are in close proximity (i.e., < 5 meters apart).
Audio Snippets: To detect conversation moments, the app records ambient sound. Recording of audio begins automatically when our sensors detect physical proximity between members of the dyad (e.g., parent and child) and voice activity in one or both members of the dyad. Each audio recording is limited to a maximum of 5 minutes, with a minimum 60-minute cooldown between recordings.
Health & Activity Data: We collect heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiration data via the Apple Watch sensors to assist in the contextual analysis of cardiac arousal during dyadic interactions. We collect accelerometer & gyroscope data to measure movement intensity and patterns to contextualize the impact of dyadic interactions on movement. Sensor data is sampled once per second.
Usage Logs: We collect technical logs regarding App performance (e.g., battery usage, connectivity status) to ensure the study software functions correctly and data integrity is maintained.

2. Consent and Authorization

Restricted Access: This App is not available to the general public. Only participants officially enrolled in our IRB-approved research study who have signed an IRB-approved Informed Consent Form (ICF) and/or Assent Form are able to use this App. Participants are given a unique Participant ID and a watch with the KINNECT App already installed.
Review and Delete: To request permanent deletion of any specific audio recording, participants can contact the study administrator.
Voluntary Participation: Data collection is entirely voluntary. Participants may withdraw from the study and cease data collection at any time by choosing to not wearing the watch and/or contacting the study team.

3. Data Storage and Security

De-Identification: All data collected by the App are coded using a unique Participant ID. No direct personal identifiers (such as names, dates of birth, or contact information) are stored locally on the watch or attached to the data uploaded to our servers.
Encryption: Data are encrypted both in transit (while being uploaded from the watch to our secure cloud servers) and at rest when uploaded and stored to our HIPAA-compliant Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers using industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption.
Local Storage: Prior to upload, raw sensor data and audio recordings are stored locally on your devices. After successful upload, local files are automatically deleted.
Access Control: Access to the research data is strictly limited to authorized investigators and research staff at the University of Pittsburgh.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. Data collected through the App are used exclusively for the scientific research purposes described in the IRB-approved protocol. We may share de-identified, coded data with:

Research Partners: Our collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh for statistical analysis and algorithm development.

5. Data Retention

We retain the data only as long as necessary to fulfill the research objectives and comply with institutional and federal record-keeping requirements. Once the study and required retention periods satisfy IRB policies, data will be destroyed in accordance with our data management plan.

6. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, the KINNECT App, or your rights as a research participant (or guardian), please contact the study team:

Study Principal Investigator: Amy Byrd, PhD (University of Pittsburgh)
Email: amy.byrd@pitt.edu
Phone: 410-251-7604