Data points and signals that can be collected using D4L Collect
Overview of the signals and data points that you can capture with D4L Collect.
| Device | Device type | Data point/Sensor signal | Data provenance | Data transfer protocol | Configuration mode in D4L Collect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexcom G7 | Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) * | Estimated glucose value Interstitial Glucose, IGLU: the glucose measured in the interstitial fluid, which surrounds cells in the tissue. |
Processed | API | CBR |
| Estimote Beacon | Indoor positioning | Distance (via UWB) | Processed | BLE, UWB * | ARS |
| RSSI – Received Signal Strength Indicator (used to determine distance) | Raw | BLE | ARS | ||
| Mobile phone’s internal sensors | Inertial measurement unit (IMU) | Acceleration | Raw | On-device API | ARS |
| Angular velocity | Raw | On-device API | ARS | ||
| Magnetic field | Raw | On-device API | ARS | ||
| Movella/Xsens DOT | Inertial measurement unit (IMU) | Via the Custom mode 1 and the Rate quantities data streaming mode: angular velocity | Raw | BLE (up to 60 Hz) Manual export for 120 Hz data |
ARS |
| Via the Custom mode 1 and the Rate quantities data streaming mode: euler angles | Processed | BLE (up to 60 Hz) Manual export for 120 Hz data |
ARS | ||
| Via the Custom mode 1 and the Rate quantities data streaming mode: free acceleration | Processed | BLE (up to 60 Hz) Manual export for 120 Hz data |
ARS | ||
| Via the Rate quantities data streaming mode: acceleration | Raw | BLE (up to 60 Hz) Manual export for 120 Hz data |
ARS | ||
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | Smartwatch | Acceleration | Raw | BLE | ARS |
| Angular velocity | Raw | BLE | ARS | ||
| Magnetic field | Raw | BLE | ARS | ||
| Activity detection: PASSIVE, ASLEEP, EXERCISE, UNKNOWN | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Daily calories | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Daily distance | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Daily floors | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Daily steps | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) | Raw | BLE | ARS | ||
| Heart rate | Processed | BLE | ARS & CBR | ||
| Interbeat interval (IBI) | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Variation in skin temperature | Processed | BLE | CBR | ||
| Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) | Processed | BLE | ARS | ||
| Fitbit via Google Health | Fitness trackers | Intraday activity data, calories burned * | Processed | API | CBR |
| Intraday activity data, steps * | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Intraday data for breathing rate * | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Intraday data for heart rate * | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Intraday data for heart rate variability * | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Intraday data for SpO2 metrics * | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Daily data for sleep | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Daily data for variation in skin temperature | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Apple HealthKit | Platform for users to track and manage their health information | Active energy | Processed | On-device API | CBR |
| Step count | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Walking and running distance | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Sleep (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Heart rate (available only in combination with a third-party device or app) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Resting heart rate (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Heart rate variability (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Breathing rate (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| SpO2 (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Variation in skin temperature (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Workouts | Mixed provenance: created manually by users or written by any third-party app | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Stand hours (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Activity summary (only available in combination with Apple Watch) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Menstrual cycle | Mixed provenance: logged and analytically predicted ones | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Contraceptive use | Manual entry | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Pregnancy | Manual entry | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Lactation | Manual entry | On-device API | CBR | ||
| Android Health Connect | Platform that enables secure, on-device sharing and synchronisation of health and fitness data between apps. Requires Android 14 or later | Steps | Processed | On-device API | CBR |
| Platform for users to manage and track their health information | Sleep (only available if a compatible wearable or sleep-tracking app is connected using Health Connect) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | |
| Platform for users to manage and track their health information | SpO2 (only available only if a compatible wearable or sleep-tracking app is connected using Health Connect) | Processed | On-device API | CBR | |
| Oura | Smart ring | Heart rate | Processed | API | CBR |
| Heart rate variability | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Sleep | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| SpO2 | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Steps | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Calories | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Breathing rate | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Variation in skin temperature | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Stress | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Workouts | Mixed provenance: created manually by the user or written by any third-party app | API | CBR | ||
| Cardiovascular age | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Activity | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Stress | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| (Device) Battery level | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Garmin | Smartwatch | Heart rate | Processed | API | CBR |
| Heart rate variability | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Sleep | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| SpO2 | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Steps | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Calories | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Breathing rate | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Variation in skin temperature | Processed | API | CBR | ||
| Stress | Processed | API | CBR |
Apple HealthKit is available on iPhones with iOS 8 or later.
Android Health Connect is available on phones with Android 14 or later.
Important: (*) To collect data points marked with an asterisk, a specialised research project agreement must be established between the device manufacturer (for example, Dexcom, Samsung), the research partner, and Data4Life.
More info: Websites of the device manufacturers
Apple HealthKit
List of abbreviations and concepts
| Abbreviation | Term | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| API | application programming interface | Connection between computers or between computer programs. A type of software interface offering a service to other pieces of software. Can handle larger amounts of data and is not limited by proximity. |
| ARS | active recording session | Configuration mode in D4L Collect: time-limited, activity-specific data collection. |
| BLE | Bluetooth Low Energy | Wireless communication technology designed for low power consumption. Designed for short-range, low-power wireless communication between devices (for example, IoT devices and wearables). |
| CBR | continuous background recording | Configuration mode in D4L Collect where data is continuously collected around the clock. |
| configuration mode | Data collection method configured by researchers in Research Studio to define how, when, and how frequently data should be collected. Can be active recording session (ARS) or continous background recording (CBR). | |
| data transfer protocol | Method by which data is transmitted from the sensor or wearable device to the D4L Collect app. | |
| IMU | inertial measurement unit | Electronic device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the orientation of the body. IMUs use a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers. |
| UWB | ultra-wideband | Radio technology that can use a very low energy level for short-range, high-bandwidth communications over a large portion of the radio spectrum. |
Last updated: October 2026
