Project Description:
Project Title: Technology and Autism
Project Desription: Technology and Autism is a series of research projects designed to test computer technologies as a means for enhancing communication and social functioning in children with autism and for increasing efficiency of autism assessment. The interdisciplinary team of researchers includes the USC UCEDD, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Zilkha Neurology Institute, the MIND Institute, and Autism Speaks.
Project goals/objectives/activities: The long-term goal of our research is to develop, test, and validate technology-assisted individualized assessment and intervention related to social interaction and communication in children with ASD. Short-term goals of the pilot studies are to test children's responses to computerized embodied conversational agents (ECAs) vs. parents and a human therapist. In addition, studies will test the usefulness of computerized coding systems to analyze the speech and communication of children with autism. Children will be recruited from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) as well as other studies of children with autism at CHLA. The project also provides a training site for trainees from the LEND Expanded Autism Program (LEAP) to participate in interdisciplinary research.
Outcomes anticipated: Collection of pilot data from children with autism in a variety of interactions with computerized characters, to generate hypotheses that can be tested in larger-scale studies. Testing of computerized coding systems for analyzing the speech and communication of children with autism.
Core function areas: Training trainees; performing research or evaluation.
Target population: Children with autism.
Geographic area served: Los Angeles County
Partnerships: MIND Institute; Autism Speaks; USC Dept of Engineering
Funding Source: Autism Speaks
Years of funding: 2008 - 2010
Keyword(s):
autism, assessment, early intervention
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Other - Assistive Technology
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
