In this article, you will find the instructions to download the Care Lab App.
The Care Lab App is the companion smartphone application to your Empatica wearable. It is the link between the Empatica wearable and the Empatica Cloud, securely transmitting the collected raw data and calculated digital biomarkers via the smartphone's internet connection (cellular or WiFi).
The Care Lab App provides information about the status of the device, the data flow, Wearing time, and some digital biomarkers. The biomarkers shown depend on the device and the Sensor Mode configured in the study.
Smartphone compatibility requirements
As a first step, please check that the companion smartphone meets the following compatibility requirements:
iOS
- iOS 18 or higher
Android
- Android version 13 or higher as released by Google
- Bluetooth® 5.0 with PHY 2M
PHY 2M capability ensures higher data throughput. Although some devices might have Bluetooth 5.0 in their specs, some devices run non-compliant Bluetooth 5.0 modules, which might disrupt the data transfer flow, constantly losing data. To know which Bluetooth protocol an Android mobile phone supports, we recommend using the Nordic App:
- Install the Nordic App from the Play Store.
- Open the main menu and select "Device information".
-
PHY 2M support is reported under the "Bluetooth Low Energy" section.
Check our Smartphone Compatibility page for more details, including a list of certified phone models.
If the Care Lab App does not appear in the App Store or Play Store, the smartphone does not meet the compatibility requirements. This is usually because the operating system version is too old, but some phone models are not supported even when the OS version matches. Check the Smartphone Compatibility page and use a certified phone model.
PHY 2M support is verified when a participant logs into the app. If the smartphone does not support it, the app shows a phone not compatible error and the participant cannot log in. Verify PHY 2M support before handing the phone to a participant, using the procedure above.
Download the Care Lab App
Make sure to download the correct app: Empatica Care Lab and not Empatica Care, as the latter only works with a different environment, exclusive to other plans.
Academic & Basic Research
Care Lab App
|
|
|
Next step: configure the smartphone
Once the Care Lab App is installed, the smartphone needs to be configured so that the app can keep running in the background and syncing data throughout the day. This prevents issues such as a full device memory and gaps in the collected data.
The Care Lab App asks to grant a battery management exception during pairing; however, some phones require additional steps.