venerdì 29 aprile 2011

Mobile Device Uses Images to Help Children with Autism Interact

Mobile Device Uses Images to Help Children with Autism Interact (Microsoft Research, April 21, 2009).
Autism spectrum disorder, which affects more than 500,000 U.S. children and millions more worldwide, can make verbal communication a challenge. With support from Microsoft External Research, two U.S. academic researchers are developing mobile device software that can enable individuals with autism to communicate more effectively.

autism

giovedì 28 aprile 2011

Using a Digital Library of Images for Communication: Comparison of a Card-Based System to PDA Software

Using a Digital Library of Images for Communication: Comparison of a Card-Based System to PDA Software [Pdf].
Trudi Miller, Gondy Leroy, John Huang, Serena Chuang (School of Information Systems & Technology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, USA) and Marjorie H. Charlop-christy (Department of Psychology, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California, USA).

Abstract - Autism spectrum disorder has become one of the most prevalent developmental disorders and one of the main impairments is difficulty with communication. One method of augmentative and alternative communication is the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to create messages using a series of images printed on cards and organized in binders. We are developing a digital alternative based on an image library that is displayed on a personal digital assistant (PDA). We conducted an initial user acceptance study that compared the effectiveness and usability of both systems. The study showed that the PDA system was able to communicate messages to adult recipients as effectively as PECS. However, the PDA was perceived to be more current, of higher quality, easier, and more normal looking than the PECS binder.

PECS

PDA

mercoledì 27 aprile 2011

Nuove frontiere, il mobile per disabili (ideatre60.it)

alpaca Nuove frontiere, il mobile per disabili
E' nato ALPACA, un progetto ideato e sviluppato da Sardiniaweb per portare su dispositivo mobile l'esperienza della comunicazione per immagini dedicata alle persone con disturbi pervasivi dello sviluppo. Il prototipo, realizzato su palmari HP iPaq, è dotato di immagini originali e personalizzate per ogni caso e dispone di un software sviluppato appositamente.
ALPACA (Alternative Literacy with PDA and Augmentative Communication for Autism) ora è stato adottato dalle Asl della Sardegna, dopo una sperimentazione di sei mesi in un centro per l'autismo con sede a Cagliari.
La Comunicazione Aumentativa (per saperne di più seguire il link) costituisce un settore della pratica clinica che tenta di compensare disabilità temporanee o permanenti di individui con bisogni comunicativi complessi e per farlo impiega tutte le competenze comunicative dell'individuo, incluse vocalizzazioni e linguaggio verbale residuo, gesti, segni. La comunicazio