Past Posts

April 01, 2011

The world as seen through Netta and Bailey's eyes.

Jessica and I wanted to update folks on a new project we're involved in. We were contacted by Duke University Pediatric Research Institute (a friend of my father's works there) about participating in a 12-month study involving child motion and development. Apparently they read our blog and dig it and us. Over the past month we've participated in a number of conference calls via Skype with some of the doctors and researchers in North Carolina. Long story short, here's the basic question their study is hoping to better understand:

How do babies (twins in our case) see the world and how does that influence their development?

Last week Amber Cardona, a nice (and brainy) doctorial student from Duke, flew out and equipped us with a hoard of technology they're using for the study. Both Netta and Bailey now have small cameras and sensitive microphones strapped (gently) to their heads 24/7 (except for bathing). They told us many times that, while at first annoying, the babies will get used to them and eventually not even notice them.



The study officially begins May 1st and will document how they see the world, what sounds interest them, how they react with us, etc. I'm a little nervous about exposing the times Jess and I are grouchy or not-so-good parents. But, we're biting the bullet and just going to do it. Part of the inventive is a hefty paycheck we'll get at the end of the study.

Anyway, we've been experimenting with the cameras and wanted to share a few of the early videos here. the quality isn't great but it works well enough I think.

Wish us luck!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That pretty weird to me. How much are you getting paid? Are the girls getting used to the cameras?

Dr Em said...

I smell april fools.......

Rocco said...

That video was bleeping hilarious. Well done.

caitlin said...

I'm so glad I watched the whole thing before reading the comments! I totally fell for it with the knife scene and then laughed out loud when the baby fell out of the swing! Another good one guys!

jzk said...

classic Garvin Family April Fools.

Laurel S said...

Hahahahahahaha!!!

I can't believe you guys. Nice work.

Rocco said...

It sounds like you dubbed in the same sample at least six times. Funny what you don't notice the first time around.

Ben said...

April Fools! Yes, it's true. We had such a good time making that thing.... And Mike, you're right, I had once decent clip of happy baby audio I used over and over.

Dr Em said...

what is the camera do-hickey on her head? It looks so real.

Ben said...

It's just a webcam with the wire cropped off from top. bwahh hahaha.