Originally published October 28 2005
Researcher uses robots to observe the social skills of autistic children
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Brian Scassellati, a robotics researcher in the computer-science department at Yale, has built robotic heads for children to interact with, so that the impaired social function of autistic children can be observed and better understood.
While neither is conducive to easy solutions, some Yale University researchers are hopeful that the clever use of technology might prove helpful to both.
Though there is a range of manifestations of autism, the disease is generally regarded as involving impaired social skills.
Autistic persons, for example, usually can't engage in normal conversations.
Brian Scassellati is a robotics researcher in Yale's computer-science department, and is part of an interdisciplinary group on campus that includes doctors and others.
These devices can be programmed to monitor where the child is, or whether the child has said anything, and then to say something appropriate.
Prof. Scassellati said that with three year olds, nonautistic children will continue to interact with a robot that is responding appropriately, but will quickly tire of one that isn't.
One of the most striking, and potentially most useful in terms of diagnostics, involves eye gaze, which can be tracked with special machines.
Current autism tests involve social skills, and so can't be given until a child is two or three and capable of some basic interactions.
Yet, as with most diseases, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the chance for effective treatment.
Researchers at Yale, and many other places, are designing robots and tools such as videogames to teach socializing skills to autistic children.
Considering the pressure some parents place on doctors to get an autism diagnosis, one wonders if parents could somehow "coach" a child into acting a certain way during a automated test.
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