AutismAR Discovery: Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Application to Support the Learning of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Panama

• Published in: IEEE-RITA Vol. 19; pp. 296 - 305
• Main Authors: Patino, Dimas H. Concepcion, Munoz, Lilia, Villarreal, Vladimir, Pardo, Cesar, Nunez, Ivonne, Navarro, Nila, Fernandez-Arroyo, Laura Villa, Dobrescu, Cosmin C., Rodriguez, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway IEEE 2024; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Adaptive technology; Assistive technologies; Augmented reality; Autism; Autistic children; Colleges & universities; Education; Handicapped assistance devices; Learning; Mobile computing; Pediatrics; Prototypes; Robot sensing systems
• ISSN: 1932-8540; 2374-0132
• DOI: 10.1109/RITA.2024.3466171

AutismAR Discovery focuses on the pre-development and validation of an augmented reality application aimed at supporting the education of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study utilized a prototype storyboard evaluation and the AttrakDiff survey with a sample of students studying special education at the university from a Panamanian university and experts in psychology, social work, and computer science. The study results demonstrate the importance of assistive technology in improving the quality of life for individuals with cognitive disabilities and promoting educational inclusion. The study found that immersive and proactive educational environments are significant for children with ASD, and that the use of augmented reality technology can enhance their learning experience. The findings of this study support the use of assistive technology to enhance the education of children with ASD. Therefore, future work is planned to conduct additional testing with a more diverse sample and to implement improvements based on the findings of this study to further enhance the application and its impact on the community.