Augmented Reality for People With Autism

[AGXStarseed]

(Not written by me)

A Cambridge-based company called Brain Power is using video games and tech to help people with autism


Sean Novick is thriving at Plymouth South Middle School. He wants to attend MIT one day because he loves math, but there are moments when he struggles.

"You're someone that doesn't fit in well," says Novick.

Novick is living with autism, a neurological disorder affecting more than 3 million families across the nation. While the range of conditions vary on the spectrum, making eye contact and reading facial expressions can be difficult. However, this all started to improve for the 13-year-old after he enrolled in a pilot program at Brain Power.

Novick is using a high powered computer in the smart glasses to play video games. Two players sit face to face and the environment intuitively changes. Whenever Sean makes more eye contact he's rewarded with points.

"I like talking to people when I feel relaxed," says Novick, crediting the game for helping him feel this way.

Founder and CEO Ned Sahin says it's personalized gaming to see the world in another way.

"We’re not trying force people to act a certain way. Our games are designed to master the daily human social interaction," he said.

Brain Power is part of a rapidly growing space called augmented reality, overlaying computer images in the real world.

Two years ago, this Cambridge, Massachusetts-based start up was only going through clinical trials. Now Sahin says they're ready to offer this innovative therapy to the public.

However, experts in the autism community caution, don’t expect this to solve everything.

"For example taking a shower, or learning skills that would assist you with dressing, I’m not sure glass has an application for things like that," says Dr. Katina Lawdis.

Lawdis says it’s just one of the many ways people like Sean could be supported. So one day he can live out his dreams, and do more than just try to fit in.

Brain Power’s entry level package costs roughly $900, not including the cost of the smart glasses. But the company says it will work with anyone who can’t afford it. Click here to learn more.

Researchers at Brain Power are also in the process of creating a new game that would help people experience what it's like being in the shoes of someone with autism.


Source: Augmented Reality for People With Autism

 

[dragoncat16]

Why do people assume by default that people on the spectrum have trouble taking a shower or dressing themselves? There are some people affected in that way by conditions comorbid to autism, but the ones who use the video game thing and want to go to MIT are probably not in that category.

 

[OkRad]

Again, they are using terms like Improve, Solve, and the idea of "rewarding" the poor kid for NT behaviour makes me queasy. Why not reward the NT for learning how NOT to make eye contact and learning how to be more thinking??

The A-hole who misdxed me and threw me under the bus said something very odd to me as I left. He saw me reading hard and said, "What are you reading?" I told him. It was a very dense book of philosophy, (even though he stated in my file, I had no indication of my special interest ) and he said, "Wow.....I wish I could block everything out and study like that....."

Yeah, I b et he could. It's a safe place to go to retreat from the world. They are jealous of us.

Our caregivers are not. I will grant them that. It is hard on our caregivers, but only b ecause the goal is WRONG. We are NOT NT so stop making that the goal!! We could be who we are and stress would be off our families if they let us be who were are.

 

[Ambi]

I didn't think the experts were implying that all people with autism have trouble with daily activities of living - they were just pointing out that not everyone on the spectrum (such as those with those issues) could be helped by this program, or not for all issues.

 

[kay]

I really haven't the slightest interest in improving my eye contact. I do make some eye contact, but if made more I'm pretty sure it would make it too hard to think straight. There are reasons for not looking people in the eye, some very practical reasons. And it's cultural thing to look at people's eyes. Not every culture shares it. It's just a habit most NTs have in this particular culture.

What I would like is that researchers focus on helping with executive function problems and anxiety and sensory issues. Why are these researchers so concerned about people appearing to look "normal" rather than trying to make life a less stressful?

Put the research into helping my short term memory, that would be nice. I could use more comfy footwear, better earplugs, fewer people saying I don't have empathy, and a phone I could find (I lose my phone when it sitting right next to me sometimes)

Also, develop quieter lawn mowers, get legislation and enforcement of stricter noise ordinances. Quit worrying about this eye contact thing, I am fine not looking, not bothering me.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

And it's cultural thing to look at people's eyes. Not every culture shares it. It's just a habit most NTs have in this particular culture.

Nail on head.

Its also a habit of mass murder and warfare in some cultures... most of the western ones.
Oops... too heavy

Their job,it seems is mostly to create more stress and pressure.

If you cant see a problem it doesnt exist,hence the NT procedure.

Which has recently been improved (sarcasm alert!) :

LOOK ME IN THE EYES.

you do it.

CURED.

End of the hard work of dealing with somebody you dont understand.