Context
One of the key benefits of Smartabase is the ability to provide a holistic view of your people and data, but organizations often have a range of places where data is collected and stored before it makes its way to Smartabase. To assist in pulling those data sources together, we integrate with a wide range of third-party providers to sync data from other products to your Smartabase site so you can understand the relationships between all of your information. You can read more about the products that we integrate with in our article on integrations.
Another option we provide is the ability to connect to some devices using Bluetooth so that data can automatically be synced to Smartabase during data entry. A prime example of this is with body mass measurements. Perhaps your organization regularly tracks body mass from groups of people so that you can provide feedback about hydration after a training session or to monitor changes over time.
We built Bluetooth input support into the Smartabase Kiosk and Athlete apps so data can be synced from compatible Bluetooth devices straight to a form in Smartabase. This reduces the risk of data errors and manipulation associated with manual data entry, and it is also aimed at improving engagement with Smartabase by making it easier for people to enter their data.
Check whether your Bluetooth scales are listed in our supported devices in our article on User-defined property schemas. If not, you can reach out to your Smartabase consultant to see if there are any other options available to you.
Note that this workflow is not currently supported on Android tablets.
Goals
This tutorial will show you how to sync weight values from Bluetooth-enabled scales to Smartabase by building an event form and configuring the Smartabase Kiosk app to link to the scales. We will be using the Rice Lake Healthweigh Scales to measure body weight and an Apple iPad to run the Kiosk app.
Outcomes
- Configure a User-defined property schema for the Bluetooth scales.
- Create an event form to collect body composition information.
- Configure the Bluetooth connection on the Kiosk app.
- Use the Kiosk app to collect body composition information.
- Test your workflow.
Outcome 1: Configure a User-defined property schema for the Bluetooth scales
- Log into the builder interface of your Smartabase site.
- Select the User-defined property schemas tool. This will only be visible if you have the appropriate system permission as part of your role.
- Create a new schema with the following properties, exactly as they are written here:
- Name: Bluetooth Input Device
- Description: Use this setting to assign the field to a Bluetooth device
- Category: Bluetooth
- Device Key: bluetooth-input
- Applies to: Form Item
- Selector: Dropdown
- Options: rice-lake-healthweigh-lbs
If you are using different scales, refer to the Options listed in our article on User-defined property schemas and choose the one that corresponds to your Bluetooth scales.
- Tick the Active checkbox
- Save the schema.
Outcome 2: Create an event form to collect body composition information
- Return to the builder interface and use the Event forms tool to create a new event form.
- Name the event form Weight Tracking, or customize the name as preferred.
- In the Form properties, enable the form to be available on All platforms.
- Add a Number field and name it Body Mass. In the advanced field properties, set an appropriate number Format and Units.
- In the field properties, select the Bluetooth device properties settings and select your Bluetooth scales option from the Bluetooth input device dropdown.
- Save the event form.
- Navigate to the administration interface.
- Search for the role that your Kiosk account has access to and add Write permission for the Weight Tracking form.
If you do not have access to a Kiosk account, speak to your Smartabase administrator or Smartabase consultant to have one created.
Outcome 3: Configure the Bluetooth connection on the Kiosk app
- Open the Smartabase Kiosk app on a tablet device.
- Log into your Smartabase site on the Kiosk app using the Kiosk account credentials.
- If you are using the Kiosk app with a Bluetooth-enabled form for the first time after installing the app, your tablet device will ask you to grant permission to access Bluetooth.
On some devices, access to your location may also be required by the device operating system. Please grant these permissions if you wish to enter data using a Bluetooth device.
If you are not prompted to enable Bluetooth for the Kiosk app or to change your choices, you can confirm your settings with the following steps:- Apple iPad: Settings > Privacy > Bluetooth.
- Android: Settings > Apps > Smartabase Kiosk > Permissions and ensure that Allow is selected.
- Go to the Coach settings and open the Bluetooth settings from the sidebar.
- Step onto the scales to activate the Bluetooth module and wait until a weight is recorded.
- Tap Scan devices to search for your Bluetooth scales.
- A green dot should appear next to the Rice Lake Healthweigh Scale option. Select the option to view the signal strength and details about the scales. The scales are connected to the Kiosk app when the status says (Connected). The signal strength is shown on the screen.
Outcome 4: Use the Kiosk app to collect body composition information
- Once the scales have been connected to the Kiosk app, return to the Athlete view and enter a new record for the Weight Tracking form.
- The athlete should stand on the scales and the value will be automatically populated in the Body mass field.
- Use the Save button to record the value.
- To disconnect the scales from the Kiosk app, return to the Bluetooth settings on the Coach settings screen and select the device name to toggle off the status button.
Outcome 5: Test your workflow
- Ensure that the Kiosk role has the necessary permissions to use view the event form on the Kiosk app (Objective 2, step 3).
- Ensure that the event form is enabled for use on the Kiosk app (Objective 2, step 8).
- Connect the Bluetooth scales to the tablet and record body weight for different people (Outcome 4).