Extended Reality (XR) has already been used to support interventions for autistic children, but mainly focuses on training the socioemotional abilities of children requiring low support. To also consider children requiring substantial support, this paper examines how to design XR applications in order to expand clinic-based sensory strategies that are often used by practitioners to put them in a secure state, and how to maximize the acceptability of such applications among practitioners. To that respect, a "Mixed Reality platform for Engagement and Relaxation of Autistic children" was designed and developed, which allows to add audio, visual and haptic individualized or common stimuli onto reality. A first Augmented Reality freeplay use case called Magic Bubbles was created based on interviews with stakeholders and on a collaboration with three practitioners. A preliminary study with eleven practitioners confirmed its well-being potential and acceptability. XR design guidelines are finally derived.
Audio Augmented Reality (AAR) consists of adding spatial audio entities into the real environment. Existing mobile applications and technologies open questions around interactive and collaborative AAR. This paper proposes an experiment to examine how spatial audio can prompt and support actions in interactive AAR experiences; how distinct auditory information influence collaborative tasks and group dynamics; and how gamified AAR can enhance participatory storytelling. We are developing an interactive multiplayer experience in AAR using the Bose Frames audio sunglasses. Four participants at a time will go through a gamified story that attempts to interfere with group dynamics. In this paper we present our AAR platform and collaborative game in terms of experience design, and detail the testing methodology and analysis that we will conduct to answer our research questions.
Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR) are promising to complement practitioners' interventions with autistic children, but they mainly target the socio-emotional abilities of children with low support needs. For autistic children with high support needs, sensory-based and mediation approaches are advised with AR headsets, to keep contact with their familiar environment and their real practitioner, while VR presents risks of isolation. Yet, the acceptability and usability of AR headsets for these children remains unknown. Thus, this paper investigates the possibility to use AR headsets with Magic Bubbles, a multisensory environment designed for autistic children with high support needs, to reassure them while reinforcing the dyadic relationship with their practitioner. Drawing upon a previous design validation with 11 practitioners, acceptability and usability testings were conducted at a day hospital with 10 children with neurodevelopmental disorders and associated intellectual disability. Findings confirm a positive acceptability and usability for these children, thus validating the possibility to use Magic Bubbles with autistic children with high support needs. At last, future directions regarding the use of AR in clinical settings are outlined.
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