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A problem many do not seem to think much about is how giving technology to children with autism can greatly impact their ways of participating with others and engaging in physical activities. In a paper by Menear, K. S., & Ernest, J. M. (2020). Comparison of Physical Activity, TV/Video Watching/Gaming, and Usage of a Portable Electronic Devices by Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 24(12), 1464–1472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03013-2. We found that children ages 6-17 had performed less physical activity compared to children without ASD. We hope to get those children to engage more with others. Our ultimate goal is to create a programmable companion to help train children with autism to engage and understand the social cues of others. These are large goals and have some limitations and challenges regarding the construction of the companion and the testing with real subjects. A large part of the project would have to be a literature search to guide the development of the companion and the testing. Ethical concerns will determine the extent and conditions of the testing. We will add sketches on how the companion will appear and compare different styles. This may include computer images to test and animate these figures.
- Estefanie Cera Saenz and Liliaine Trujillo