Exploring Collaboration Patterns in a Multitouch Game to Encourage Social Interaction and Collaboration Among Users with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

In this paper, we present a design and evaluation of four Collaboration Patterns on a multitouch collaborative game designed to encourage collaboration among people diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). We define Collaboration Patterns as collaborative interaction strategies on elements in a multiuser interface. The patterns presented here were designed according to both recommendations from experts in ASD and requirements of a group of youths with high ASD-related impairment in their social interactions and were inspired by collaborative methods used in other studies. The proposed Collaboration Patterns were evaluated using research criteria relating to social interaction actions and collaborative tasks achieved by users during a multitouch game. The evaluation results suggest that each Collaboration Pattern motivates the need for collaboration and encourages creation of social interaction expressions among users. The applied sequence of patterns gradually encouraged collaborative activities and verbal and gestural interaction expressions among users. The significant characteristics of the proposed Collaboration Patterns allow us to suggest that they might be used in other collaborative applications aimed at fostering social interaction and collaboration among people with ASD.

Development of a Virtual Reality-Based Game Approach for Supporting Sensory Processing Disorders Treatment

“…Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) treatment is also one that has employed VR systems broadly [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Barajas et al [16] applied a mixture of a tangible device connected to a VR game on a computer screen, in order to help patients improve their conceptual, practical and social skills.…”

“…Hughes et al [18] created a game to train empathy and perspective in autistic patients by requiring them to take care of a living creature. Silva et al [19] use VR as a tool to instigate the collaboration between autistic children with the goal of improving their social interaction skills. To do so, the authors developed a multi-touch application that requires two people to work together to complete challenges.…”

“…A literature review indicated that Virtual Reality (VR) has been used to support treatment for various health conditions, including disorders that have SPD as a symptom, such as Vestibular Disorders [9][10][11][12][13][14], Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) [15][16][17][18][19][20], Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) [21][22][23][24][25] and Speech Disorder [26,27]. All of these VR solutions have been used for rehabilitation and treatment of patients with different conditions, many of which are closely related to SPD.…”

Personalization in Game Design for Healthcare: a Literature Review on its Definitions and Effects

“…Three of the 62 studies involved stakeholders (designers, domain experts and end-users) only in the Problem Definition Phase, of which two studies involved both designers and end-users, but not domain experts [32,33], and one involved designers and domain experts, but no end-users [3]. Table 3.…”

“…Some PDP phases are better suited to these four specific types of stakeholders than others. For example, designers and domain experts typically partake in the first Problem Definition Phase, by defining the problem and recommendations for focus of the design [3]. During the Product Design…”