“An Exploration of the Effectiveness of the use of Communication Apps through Mobile Devices on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).”

Ms. Miriam O’ Sullivan, Institute of Technology Tralee.

Glossary of terms: • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): • Complex neurological disorder (Bluestone, 2005).• Effects social, communication and behaviour skills.• Heterogeneous condition.• Picture Exchange Communication System (P.E.C.S.) (Frost and Bondy, 2012).

• Mobile devices: • Smartphones, Tablets, iPad, iPod, iPhone.

• Communication Apps: • Seven categories• Examples include: Proloquo2go, Grace, LetMeTalk, Voice4u, etc.

Research Questions

• Do the children show preference to using the mobile device as opposed to the folder? • Do the instances of communication increase among children when

using a mobile device and Communication App? • Is the child independent in managing the vocabulary library? • What effects has the use of the Communication App and mobile

device had on a child’s life in relation to home, school and the community? • Is the usability of the device suitable for children with ASD?

Rationale for the Research

• Inspired by a child with ASD. • Potential benefits for children with ASD as outlined in the research. • Limited availability of research.

Relevant Theoretical and Methodological Issues

• Current research: • Availability. • Sources. • Design methodology.

• Development of Communication Apps that are currently available:• Software developers.• Parents of children with ASD.

• Onei will be developed by a Social Care Professional in partnership with a school for children with Special Needs.

Technical and Procedural Aspects of Data Collection and Analysis

• Participant Profile• Interviews

• Staff (Classroom teachers and Speech and Language Therapists)• Parents

• Observations • Informal • Formal- Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (Autism Research Institute)

• Focus Group• Questionnaires

• Staff • Parents

Initial Findings

• Triangulation of theory: from theory to practice• Current use of mobile devices:

• Availability of mobile devices in Ireland. • Effects of using Apps and mobile devices on children with ASD.

• User requirements:• Sensory processing.• Motor skills. • App features.

• Development of frameworks for building with children with ASD as opposed to for children with ASD. • UPA User Experience Snake Diagram.

Designing for the user- User-Centered Design

Next Steps

• Usability Testing: • Focus group.• Introduce the participants to the prototype App.

• Engaging in the iterative process of participatory design: • Creating several versions of the App in order to meet the needs of the participants.

• Fundraising in order to provide each child with a mobile device for the research. • Implement the App and mobile device with each child in September 2015.

• Observations every two weeks using ATEC. • Re-evaluate implementation mid-October to assess if the App needs to be adapted to

meet the needs of the participants.

Project Management Gantt ChartTime Period Action/s Methods CommentsJan/Feb 2015 Field Research Observations of how children

currently use standard PECs in a school setting.

Interviews with staff and parents

The aim is to establish what elements of PECS are best suited to or could be substantively improved upon though the use of an App.

The appropriate SNA will be identified by teaching staff

March/April/May 2015 Prototype Design for App  Conduct a focus group with staff and parents on the “look and feel” of the App

 

June 2015 Initial usability testing of Prototype App

Field Research in school setting The school setting test is simply a set of initial field trials concentrating on the general ‘look and feel’ of the App.

September- Early October 2015 (Phase 1)

Action Research Phase

 

 

 

 

Mid-October- November 2015 (Phase 2)

Implementation and Modification of Prototype App

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation of implementation of the app.

Changes to be made as a result of feedback

Structured observations (utilising ATEC) of the children using App

Questionnaire with Parents and Speech & Language Therapist & School Principal

 

 

Feedback from staff and children- structured observations and informal interviews

These observations will take place in the presence of school staff i.e. classroom teacher/SNA

Jan/Feb 2016

 

Final analysis of data Questionnaires to be completed by staff and parents

These questionnaires will act as the final piece to evidencing the effects and impact of the app on the children.

Commercial Application of the Research

• Analysis of the cost of Apps currently available. • Usability analysis of the features currently available in Communication

Apps.• Potential for application in Ireland.

Analysis of the cost of Apps currently availableApp Name Apple Store Play Store

Tap to Talk Free Free

Proloquo2Go €219.99 unavailable

One Voice Lite Free unavailable

urVoice Free unavailable

NikiTalk Free Free

CommunicAide Free unavailable

PECS Phase 3 €7.99 unavailable

AvazPro AAC €149.99 €121.21

Let Me Talk Free Free

Grace €29.99 €9.99

AvazPro AAC (Lite) Free Free

Autism AAC Speech 3D Symbols unavailable Free

AAC Speech Communicator unavailable Free

AAC Talking Tabs Donate Key unavailable €3.60 (no obvious difference in free version)

Aac Talking Tabs unavailable Free

Usability analysis of the features currently available in Communication Apps.

• 90% Apps use P.E.C.S.• 40% use text-to-speech. • 10% allow for customisation of P.E.C.S. phase.• 100% of fonts are easy to read; however, 90% do not take account of user friendliness

i.e. “a” as opposed to “a”.• 20% facilitate font size to be changed.• 40% allow for symbol size to be changed. • 80% navigation tools are easy to see and use. • 40% allow for voice control to be turned on/off.• 50% have a camera feature.• 40% are supported by different operating systems. • 10% display the sentence strip full screen. • 40% require further payment to access full features.

Potential for application in Ireland• Evidence Based. • Developed with children with ASD. • Localisation of vocabulary and features.

References• Bluestone, J., 2005, The Fabric of Autism- weaving the threads into a cogent theory, Sapphire Enterprises,

LLC, 1300 Dexter Avenue North, #110 The Casey Family Building Seattle, WA 98109.

• Frost L. and Bondy A., 2002, The Picture Exchange Communication System Training Manual, Second Edition, Pyramid Education Consultants, United States.

• Autism Research Insititute, 2015, Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), available from: http://www.autism.com/ind_atec, accessed on 10/10/2014.

• Treder M., 2012, Beyond Wireframing: The Real-Life UX Design Process, available from: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/08/29/beyond-wireframing-real-life-ux-design-process/, accessed on 15/11/2014.