Autism Spectrum Engaged Cloud Technology (ASPECT) Hub

Spring 2018 RESEARCH INCUBATION AWARDEE

PI: Catherine Caldwell-Harris, Associate Professor, Psychology

Co-PI: Wesley Wildman, Professor, Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics

The challenge

Guardians experience difficulties in raising children with autism disorder. Victims of the disorder suffer communication and speech deficiency due to differed sensory processing which breeds social issues. Behavioral changes and cognitive impairment make the child rigid to change. Moreover, they have conditioned their minds to a particular routine, and any deviation will create conflicts.

Solution

ASD individuals enjoy the interaction with the computer; therefore, the use of technology, including augmented reality and virtual reality are instrumental in learning for people with this disorder. In this case, there is the constant maintenance of routines without effect on comfort as well as repetitive behaviors.

Steps to solution

The software is designed with virtual reality and sensors that aid ASD children in speech recognition. Robotic systems are devised to examine the emotions and integrate them in the development of social skills. Virtual agents are imperative tools in synthesizing the social communication of children with ASD. The effectiveness of this approach has been examined and established that there is a greater interest of children with ASD in this system, and therefore, learning made it easier.