Autism &Affective Computing

Stephanie VacherSOCS 300

Emily Carr UniversityMarch 17, 2009

Introduction:- Autism / ASD

Treatments & Therapies for ASD

- Affective Computing

Examples of AC Therapies

- The Big Question How can I integrate affective computer technology into ASD treatment, to enable stress reduction and build socio-emotional skills?

Abstract:Title: “Assessing the use of affective computer technology to assist in communication, stress reduction and behaviour modification for people with autism spectrum disorders.”

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in socialization, communication, and problem-solving skills. There is no known cure for ASD, but high technology therapies have been developed to enable some autistic people to learn basic socioemotional skills. Evidence suggests that affective computing, a subset of research in human-computer interac-tion, could prove useful to developing behaviour modification and communication therapies for patients with ASD. Affective Computing is defined as “computing that relates to, arises from, or influences emotions” (Picard, 1995). The application of these affective technological models may provide new forms of ther-apy for ASD patients, and result in a rise in quality of life for autistic people.

Source: Picard, R. W. (1995). Affective Computing. M.I.T. Media Laboratory Perceptual Computing Section Technical Report, No. 321, 1-16.

What is ASD?

CommunicationSkills

SocializationSkills

Problem SolvingSkills

What is ASD?- Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism | Aspergers | PDD-NOS

- Symptoms

- Causes

- Diagnosis

14 Months - 3 Years

- Treatments

Medication | Therapy

Therapies

Stress Reduction:Adaptive Model

(Exhibited by persons with good coping strategies)

Stressors(Promotion, Death, Separation, Birth of a Sibling, Pain)

Buffers(Social Networks, Hardiness, Internal Locus of Control)

Adaptive Behaviours(Assertiveness, Socializing, Exercise)

Reinforcement

Stress Reduction

Maladaptive Model(Exhibited by persons with poor coping strategies,

especially by individuals with developmental disabilities)

Stressors(Taking Criticism, Changes, Inability to Understand

Instruction, External Control)

Inability to Use Buffers(Lack of Friends, Communication Deficits,

Lack of Self-Control)

Maladaptive Behaviours(Aggression Tantrum, Self-Injury, Stereotypic Behaviours)

Punishment

Increased StressSource: Baron, M. G, Groden, J, Groden, G, & Lipsitt, L. P. (2006). Stress and Coping in Autism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Affective Computing

Case Studies:

Conclusion:

What needs to be done to reduce stress and create buffers for autistic people?

What AC technology has enabled autistic people to build socio-emotional skills?

How can designers use AC technology to remove communication barriers?

Thesis Question: “How can I integrate affective computer technology into ASD treatment, to enable stress reduction and build socio-emotional skills?”

Sources:Slide 1: Autism on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (n.d.). . Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/molotvo/2845021171/. Slide 6: 007> on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (n.d.). . Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/smithereen/314647760/.

Slide 7: Chart “Adaptive and maladaptive coping models in autism” from: Baron, M. G, Groden, J, Groden, G, & Lipsitt, L. P. (2006). Stress and Coping in Autism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 19.

Slide 8: SiD - On The Latest: Kismet Robot. (n.d.). . Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://sid-otl.blogspot.com/2008/05/kismet-robot.html.

Slide 9: Clockwise from top left:

From “Affective Computing and Autism,” by Kaliouby, R., Picard, R. and Baron-Cohen, S., 2006, New York Academy of Sciences, 1093, p. 238. Copyright 2006 by the New York Academy of Sciences.

From “The Use of Technology in the Study, Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism,” by Michel, P., 2004, p. 13.

From “Technology for Just-In-Time In-Situ Learning of Facial Affect for Persons Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder,” by Madsen, M., Kaliouby, R., Goodwin, M., and Picard, R., 2008, ASSETS ‘08, p. 6. Copyright 2008 by ASSETS ‘08.

From “Shybot: Friend-Stranger Interaction for Children Living with Autism,” by Chia-Husn, J. L., Breazeal, C., Kim, K., Picard, R., 2008, CHI 2008, p. 3. Copyright 2008 by the Authors.