Georgia Magazine - July 2017 - 23

SCOTT ROBERTSON

Jeremy Johnson, left, and Maribeth Gandy Coleman, center, of
Georgia Tech's Interactive Media Technology Center demonstrate
an augmented-reality system that measures grievance, opportunity
and risk as motivating factors in choosing to engage in political
protest or terrorism. The system, being developed in conjunction
with researchers from Georgia State University in Atlanta and the
State University of New York at Albany, uses a head-mounted video
display to place participants in simulated situations in which virtual
characters attempt to recruit them to join peaceful, student-led
protests or violent resistance movements.
July 2017

SCOTT ROBERTSON

The home base for new wearable-technology development in the state lands at Georgia Tech, particularly
in the Wearable Computing Center and the Interactive
Media Technology Center. Both centers are focusing on
what's next in the bio-sensing arena, whether that's a
consumer-wearable computer, a mobile medical-records
app used by Emory Hospital in Atlanta or flexible electronics that allow older Georgians to age at home with
comfort. Companies such as AT&T and Samsung have
joined Georgia Tech's Center for the Development and
Application of Internet of Things Technologies, which
connects devices through the internet. With connected
devices in our cars, homes and health care, the technology affects all sectors of the economy and society.
"There's been an organic movement around prevention and wellness to take care of ourselves now, rather

COURTESY WALT THOMPSON

Wearable developments in Georgia

than later, when we develop health issues," says Jiten
Chhabra, a research scientist in the Interactive Media
Technology Center.
Chhabra, who already had a medical degree before earning a degree in human-computer interaction at
Georgia Tech, pairs his dual expertise to create health
apps that work well and offer sound medical advice.
"It's a constant balance with these two different
schools of thought. Sometimes it's an uphill battle to
get physicians to adopt new technology and new approaches," he says. "At the same time, engineers and app
makers aren't thinking about the health implications or
medical research that should go behind an app."
Because wearables and health apps are still new
and evolving, the Food and Drug Administration hasn't
yet set guidelines to regulate them for accuracy. That's
where Chhabra's expertise comes into play. His group
has developed a "clinical trial" method that tests apps
and devices for accuracy before companies market them
to consumers.

COURTESY AMBER HUTCHINS

parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, swimming pools
and tennis courts than other cities. At the same time,
it recommended reducing smoking, increasing publictransportation opportunities and establishing more local
farmers markets for residents.
"If you pay attention in downtown Atlanta, you can
see this happening daily. The roads are being restriped
for bike lanes, and places like Piedmont and Woodruff
parks have places to rent a bike," Thompson says. "Fitness in the South is changing, particularly in Georgia
and Atlanta."

More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

'I wish more health-tech
start-up companies would
validate their health claims,
because what you see today is
mostly not backed by research,
which casts a shadow over the
whole industry.'
-Jiten Chhabra, research scientist, Interactive Media Technology Center, Georgia Tech

'Just like the changes occurring
in car technology every year,
similar developments are
happening in the fitness
market.'
-Walt Thompson, kinesiology and nutrition professor, Georgia State University

'This is all new to all of us, and
we need to remember to look
at the other side of what's
being done with data that's
given up freely.'
-Amber Hutchins, communication and
media professor, Kennesaw State University

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2017
