Social communication between virtual characters and children with autism

A. Alcorn; H. Pain; G Rajendran; T. Smith; O. Lemon; K. Porayska-Pomsta; M. Foster; K. Avramides; C. Frauenberger; S. Bernardini

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-21869-9_4

Social communication between virtual characters and children with autism

A. Alcorn, H. Pain, G Rajendran, T. Smith, O. Lemon, K. Porayska-Pomsta, M. Foster, K. Avramides, C. Frauenberger, S. Bernardini

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Children with ASD have difficulty with social communication, particularly joint attention. Interaction in a virtual environment (VE) may be a means for both understanding these difficulties and addressing them. It is first necessary to discover how this population interacts with virtual characters, and whether they can follow joint attention cues in a VE. This paper describes a study in which 32 children with ASD used the ECHOES VE to assist a virtual character in selecting objects by following the character’s gaze and/or pointing. Both accuracy and reaction time data suggest that children were able to successfully complete the task, and qualitative data further suggests that most children perceived the character as an intentional being with relevant, mutually directed behaviour.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	7-14
Number of pages	8
Journal	International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education
Volume	6738
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21869-9_4
Publication status	Published - 2011

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder
virtual environment
virtual character
joint attention
social communication
technology-enhanced learning
HCI

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10.1007/978-3-642-21869-9_4

Cite this

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title = "Social communication between virtual characters and children with autism",

abstract = "Children with ASD have difficulty with social communication, particularly joint attention. Interaction in a virtual environment (VE) may be a means for both understanding these difficulties and addressing them. It is first necessary to discover how this population interacts with virtual characters, and whether they can follow joint attention cues in a VE. This paper describes a study in which 32 children with ASD used the ECHOES VE to assist a virtual character in selecting objects by following the character{\textquoteright}s gaze and/or pointing. Both accuracy and reaction time data suggest that children were able to successfully complete the task, and qualitative data further suggests that most children perceived the character as an intentional being with relevant, mutually directed behaviour. ",

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T1 - Social communication between virtual characters and children with autism

AU - Alcorn, A.

AU - Pain, H.

AU - Rajendran, G

AU - Smith, T.

AU - Lemon, O.

AU - Porayska-Pomsta, K.

AU - Foster, M.

AU - Avramides, K.

AU - Frauenberger, C.

AU - Bernardini, S.

PY - 2011

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N2 - Children with ASD have difficulty with social communication, particularly joint attention. Interaction in a virtual environment (VE) may be a means for both understanding these difficulties and addressing them. It is first necessary to discover how this population interacts with virtual characters, and whether they can follow joint attention cues in a VE. This paper describes a study in which 32 children with ASD used the ECHOES VE to assist a virtual character in selecting objects by following the character’s gaze and/or pointing. Both accuracy and reaction time data suggest that children were able to successfully complete the task, and qualitative data further suggests that most children perceived the character as an intentional being with relevant, mutually directed behaviour.

AB - Children with ASD have difficulty with social communication, particularly joint attention. Interaction in a virtual environment (VE) may be a means for both understanding these difficulties and addressing them. It is first necessary to discover how this population interacts with virtual characters, and whether they can follow joint attention cues in a VE. This paper describes a study in which 32 children with ASD used the ECHOES VE to assist a virtual character in selecting objects by following the character’s gaze and/or pointing. Both accuracy and reaction time data suggest that children were able to successfully complete the task, and qualitative data further suggests that most children perceived the character as an intentional being with relevant, mutually directed behaviour.

KW - autism spectrum disorder

KW - virtual environment

KW - virtual character

KW - joint attention

KW - social communication

KW - technology-enhanced learning

KW - HCI

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DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-21869-9_4

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VL - 6738

SP - 7

EP - 14

JO - International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education

JF - International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education

ER -

Social communication between virtual characters and children with autism

Abstract

Keywords

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