# BiAffect — ResearchKit mood study

> Research app studying mood and cognitive function in bipolar disorder via sensor data. (iPhone/iPad app by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biaffect/id1355144276 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://appshunter.io/developer/422670617)
- Category: Health & Fitness, Medical
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.33/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 16.1 · 36 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2018-03-09
- Data updated: 2026-07-27
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biaffect/id1355144276/reviews.md

## What is BiAffect?

Thank you for trying BiAffect. In this ResearchKit study, we would like to understand the relationship between mood and neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder using keystroke dynamics (such as typing speed and typing errors) and other passive sensor information (such as the accelerometer). You don't have to be a person with bipolar disorder to help us test this app—we also need healthy participants to use the app and serve as a control group.

Currently, diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder rely on careful history taking and examination by a clinician, at times aided by self-report or caretaker-informed questionnaires. In general, these reports have to be interpreted by providers in order to extract patterns that could indicate an imminent change in mood. Moreover, they do not necessarily represent objective psycho-physiological markers.

On the other hand, the pervasive use of mobile wireless devices has significantly shaped interpersonal communications in modern life. Indeed, as personal smartphone technology advances, people are increasingly interacting with one another via typed (rather than oral) communications. For this reason, we want to investigate if keyboard dynamics and sensor data from iPhone serve as more objective biomarkers or 'virtual mental-health footprints' of bipolar disorder and mood in general.

## Key features

- Keystroke dynamics analysis
- Passive sensor data collection
- Mood and neurocognitive study
- Bipolar disorder research
- Control group participation

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biaffect/id1355144276/reviews.md

### 5/5 — gr8!

*2022-08-16*

easy n kinda fun tbh

### 3/5 — wish it could warn us

*2018-03-25*

I know the tech behind it is solid so I wish it could share its predictions so we can act early on episodes

### 3/5 — Laptop version wanted

*2018-03-23*

I would love if it were available on laptop MacBook Pro etc because I mostly use that to type text messages, not my phone.

### 5/5 — Easy

*2018-03-10*

It's easy to do.

## Frequently asked questions about BiAffect

### What is BiAffect used for?

BiAffect is a ResearchKit study app designed to understand the relationship between mood and neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder. It uses typing dynamics and passive sensor data from your iPhone to identify potential biomarkers.

### Who can participate in the BiAffect study?

The study welcomes both individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and healthy participants to serve as a control group. This helps researchers establish a baseline for comparison.

### What kind of data does BiAffect collect?

BiAffect collects data through keystroke dynamics, such as typing speed and errors, and passive sensor information from your iPhone's accelerometer. This data is used to analyze 'virtual mental-health footprints'.

### Is BiAffect available on Android devices?

Currently, BiAffect is supported on iPhone and iPod devices. It is not available for Android smartphones at this time.

### How accurate is the data collected by BiAffect?

The app aims to provide objective psycho-physiological markers by analyzing typing patterns and sensor data. While not a replacement for clinical diagnosis, it seeks to offer more objective insights than traditional self-reports.

### How often is BiAffect updated?

The latest version of BiAffect is 2.2.0, which was last updated on August 16, 2020. This indicates a moderate update frequency for the application.

### What is the age rating for BiAffect?

BiAffect has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for teenagers and adults interested in participating in health research.

### Does BiAffect have ads?

No, BiAffect does not contain advertisements. As a research study app, it focuses on data collection for scientific purposes without commercial interruptions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0.6 — 2026-06-30

* All-new KeyboardKit-powered keyboard for improved performance and stability
* Enhanced typing experience with better responsiveness and compatibility across iOS
* Improved data collection infrastructure and study management
* Numerous bug fixes and usability improvements

### 4.0.0 — 2026-06-17

* All-new KeyboardKit-powered keyboard for improved performance and stability
* Enhanced typing experience with better responsiveness and compatibility across iOS
* Improved data collection infrastructure and study management
* Numerous bug fixes and usability improvements

Important: Re-enrollment Required

Because this release includes major changes to the app’s research platform and keyboard technology, all participants must create a new account and re-enroll in the study after updating. Previous accounts and study enrollments cannot be migrated to the new version.

We appreciate your continued participation and support as we make BiAffect more powerful, reliable, and accessible for research.

### 2.2.0 — 2020-08-16

Added support for including additional active tasks

### 2.1.4 — 2020-08-07

Dashboard graph improvements

### 2.1.3 — 2020-08-03

New dashboard graph

## Apps similar to BiAffect

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Even Mind](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/even-mind/id1529960499) | 4.4 (54) | Free | Health & Fitness |
| [juli: Mood & Health Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/juli-mood-and-health-tracker/id1534103773) | 4.7 (661) | Free | Health & Fitness |
| [Sonde Mental Fitness](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonde-mental-fitness/id1557473269) | 4.4 (19) | Free | Health & Fitness |
| [Bipolar Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bipolar-tracker/id6478313737) | 3.6 (14) | Free | Health & Fitness |
| [Mood Journal, BPD, Feeltracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mood-journal-bpd-feeltracker/id687448999) | 4.8 (108) | Free | Health & Fitness |

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All apps by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: https://appshunter.io/developer/422670617

## Related topics

[biaffect3](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/biaffect3) · [bipsync](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bipsync)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-27.*