AWARD YEAR
2015
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
autism, communication, interaction
COUNTRY
Italy
DESIGNED BY
Beste Ozcan
Laboratory of Computational Embodied Neuroscience, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (LOCEN-ISTC-CNR)
WEBSITE
http://www.beste-ozcan.com/plusme/
+me
+me is an emotionally responsive device that helps autistic children to communicate in a better way
+me is an emotionally responsive body plug-in for adults and a motivational transitional object that helps autistic children to communicate in a better way. +me is a soft collar pillow with visual, auditory and haptic sensory integration; autistic children can communicate with the device in the way he/she likes such as hugging, sleeping, squeezing or carrying. The wearable prototype consists haptic interface, color and density changing lights, speakers with sensor technologies and a remote controller that allows therapists or parents to adjust the actual sensory feedback. The main aim of the prototype is producing specific sensory feedback controlled by an adult to implement social competence and social conversation between children with autism and their parents. After having positive sensory feedback as a reward, children with autism tend to focus more on the interpersonal communication and achieving their goals during the learning activities.