Hello everyone,
This week brings new Polar data sources through Polar’s latest API, clearer section labels in web surveys, and a 2 GB limit for response exports. We also improved how cloud data sources appear in the participant device dialog and fixed issues with chat, dropdown answers on iOS, welcome emails, researcher permissions, and session submissions. Details are below.
New Features
New Polar Data Sources Through Polar’s New API
Polar has released a new version of its API (AccessLink v4), and Avicenna now collects Polar data through it. New data sources include training sessions, beat-to-beat intervals, night sleep, sleep stages, and sleep/wake states.
For more details on migrating to the new Polar data sources, see our Reference.
Improvements
Clearer Section Labels in Web Surveys
If your survey uses sections, participants completing it in a web browser now see the section label in a full-width bar directly below the progress bar, rather than above the question card. Long section labels and survey titles are shortened to fit the screen, and participants can tap them to see the full text.
Size Limit for Response Exports
Each response export is now limited to 2 GB, and a study can run only one Export all responses operation at a time. Exports that exceed the size limit are stopped with a message. For studies with many photo, audio, or video answers, you can export fewer activities or use a shorter date range at a time.
Cloud Data Sources in the Device Dialog
The participant device dialog on the Participation page no longer lists cloud data sources such as Fitbit or Oura, which appeared as No Data in that dialog. To check these connections, use the Cloud Data Sources column.
Bug Fixes
Opening Chat When Many Participants Join at Once
We fixed an issue that caused some participants to see an error when opening chat if several participants opened chat with the same researcher simultaneously, for example, right after a study launched.
Clearing Dropdown Answers on iOS
We addressed an issue that prevented participants on iOS from clearing their answers to single-answer questions displayed as dropdowns. Tapping the selected option again now clears the answer, allowing participants to leave optional questions unanswered.
Pages That Stopped Working
We resolved several pages on researcher dashboard and web application that could stop responding. This happened on the login and registration pages when the browser’s automatic translation was turned on, and in the researcher dashboard in the Edit Study dialog, the researcher permissions dialog, the notification template editor, and some filter options.
Welcome Emails for Invited Participants
We fixed an issue that prevented participants who joined a study through an invitation from receiving the Participant Joined email if they joined before verifying their email addresses.
Promoting Researchers to Permission Manager
We resolved an issue that caused attempts to promote some researchers to Permission Manager to fail with a “Not Registered” error. Attempts to remove these researchers from the study or make them the study owner failed with the same error.
Mandatory Information Questions on the RRS Page
We addressed an issue that prevented researchers from submitting a session on the Researcher Responded Session (RRS) page when the survey included an information question marked as mandatory. Information questions have no answer, so they no longer block the submission or show as unanswered.
Security Updates
Stronger Permission Checks for Study Changes
We strengthened the permission checks that protect studies and surveys, so a change is accepted only for a study the researcher has access to. No action is needed on your side.
Thank you for your continued feedback and support, which helps us make Avicenna Research better with each release. We hope you find these updates useful. As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out with any comments or questions on our Community Forum or contact us directly via Email. Stay tuned for more updates coming your way!