University of Minnesota SALSA

SALSA (System for Automated Language and Speech Analysis) is a mobile application designed to administer a series of cognitive tests that use voice and language as well as research surveys and other research instruments. It consists of a user interface that displays test stimuli to study participants and asks them to perform various tasks (e.g., describing pictures, listening to and recalling stories, answering questions, keeping an audio diary, etc.). 

SALSA securely sends collected data to study servers used to store and analyze these data according to study protocols approved by the Institutional Review Board. All data collected with SALSA is encrypted while it is on the mobile device and in transit to the study servers.

After installation, the user/study participant is given a secure code by the study coordinator that only he/she can use to log into the app. Once the code is verified on study servers, the test stimuli are downloaded to the app and displayed to the user one at a time based on a sequence defined by the research study in which they are participating. When the participant has completed all or some of their assessments, they can upload their responses to the study servers through SALSAs upload interface.

SALSA is currently available solely for the purpose of research. Use of this app is available only to eligible participants that have provided their consent to enroll in a research study that uses SALSA. This app is not available for public use outside of a research study context.