Collaborative mixed reality-aid for youths with autism
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Umeå universitet - Institutionen för datavetenskap |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 991 088 |
| Project duration | April 2019 - August 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Digital health |
Purpose and goal
Individuals with autism often have problems with change. New situations and environments creates anxiety and worry and often limits their lives in many ways. CMRA is a digital aid developed for children and young people with autism. With the help of VR and AI technologies, a software has been created that gamifies the scenario and adapts to the user´s stress reactions in real time. Preparing at home in a calm and safe environment, gives the user a chance to gradually become more and more confident in a specific situation. Being exposed to the situation in reality will then not be a major leap.
Expected results and effects
The project has created a VR app that is a gamified aid for young people with autism with an AI. The tool helps users to prepare for new environments and new situations. The app has stress measurement sensors via puls bands and eye tracking analysis. User tests and final interviews with young people from the target group and the accompanying parent or assistent resulted in very positive reactions. The project´s researchers have together formulated and submitted an ethical proposal and have intended to do further research on VR, AI, autism, psychology and pedagogy, using the tool.
Planned approach and implementation
The project began with a technical prestudy and several workshops with secondary target groups - people who work close to the target group, parent groups, researchers. This was supplemented with in-depth interviews and group discussions with young people in the target group. The development started after summer and lasted for the rest of the project. The large project group had monthly meetings to keep the information open and simplify communication. Risk analysis was performed. At the end of August, the user tests could be carried out and the project participated in digital Vitalis.