Innovations in Technology for Autism Demonstrations at the International Meeting For Autism Research (IMFAR)

Families with children diagnosed with autism will demonstrate Innovative Technologies for Autism on Friday May 21 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon , while researchers will be presenting technology innovations in a half day session from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), Philadelphia Marriott, Philadelphia PA, highlighting innovations to advance academic skills; social behaviors, and facial expression and emotional recognition skills; social interaction, conversation, collaboration and turn-taking; social problem solving; moderating speech such as volume and rate of speech, using computerized gaming; iPods as alternative and augmentative communication; and wrist or ankle worn wireless devices to record and analyze characteristic behaviors such as rocking and flapping. A detailed list of the innovative technology to be demonstrated follows below.

The IMFAR tech/demo session, supported by funding from the Autism Speaks' Innovative Technology for Autism (ITA) Initiative, illustrates how technology can enhance and accelerate the pace of autism research and treatment by providing broader access to professional resources; reducing treatment costs; promoting interventions that increase generalization of learned skills; and furthering research recruitment, implementation, and data collection and analysis. Autism Speaks ITA experts will be available for interview from 8:00 am – 12:30 p.m., families will be available from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.

WHAT: Innovations in Technology for Autism Demonstrations at the Internatinoal Meeting for Autism Research
WHO: Researchers and families with children with autism demonstrating technology, Innovations in Technology for Autism Experts
WHERE: Philadelphia Marriott, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia Penn.
WHEN: Presentation and Poster Session Friday May 21, 2010 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Families & children with autism demonstrating technology 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Autism Speaks ITA experts available 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION and NOTES
· Media can register via http://www.autism-insar.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191&Itemid=167
· For information and lay abstracts of scientific presentations visit http://www.autism-insar.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=142
· Meeting highlights are embargoed until 4:00 pm Wednesday May 19, 2010
· Telephone interviews will be arranged upon request prior to the IMFAR meeting, and in-person interviews during the conference with space for one-on-one interviews provided in the press room, if desired.
· All abstracts will be posted on the IMFAR website on Wednesday May 19.

INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY FOR AUTISM DEMONSTRATIONS HIGHTLIGHTS
(Embargoed Abstracts Available on Request)

ACADEMIC
Enhancing Motivation through Computer-Assisted Instructional Practices
Interactive computer environment that teaches language, academic, and social skills based on principles of applied behavior analysis
C. Whalen, TeachTown

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
Rachel: An Embodied Conversational Agent for Eliciting and Analyzing Emotional Interactions in Children with Autism
Interactive computer avatar to teach children conversational and emotional skills
E. Mower, University of Southern California
E. Flores, USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
M. P. Black, University of Southern California
M. E. Williams, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
S. Narayanan, University of Southern California

Results From An RCT of FaceSay Software Games
Interactive computer avatar to teach facial expressions and emotion recognition
C. Wimsatt, Symbionica, LLC,

Eliciting Social-Cognitive Behaviors in Children with ASD Using a Novel Interactive Animated Character
Disney-based interactive animation character to encourage social behavior
C. Samango-Sprouse, George Washington University
C. Lathan, AnthroTronix, Inc.,
K. Boser, Individual Differences in Learning, Inc
L. Georganna, WALT DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS
J. Hodgins, Carnegie Mellon University

Enhancing Social Interaction through Story-Telling Among High-Functioning Children with Autism
Enhancing social interaction, cooperative skills, and play behavior through collaborative use of a touch and gesture activated digital tabletop device
E. Gal, University of Haifa
P. L. Weiss, University of Haifa
L. Lamash, University of Haifa
N. Bauminger, School of Education, Bar-Ilan University

Demonstration of a Collaborative Interface to Promote Positive Social Interaction Skills for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Enhancing social interaction, cooperative skills, and play behavior through collaborative use of a touch and gesture activated digital tabletop device
E. Gal, University of Haifa
N. Bauminger, School of Education, Bar Ilan University
M. Zancanaro, i3 Research Unit, Bruno Kessler Foundation
D. Tomasini, i3 Research Unit, Bruno Kessler Foundation
P. L. Weiss, University of Haifa

Eyes up: Interactive Tangible-Digital Puzzles for Learning about Eyes
Interactive computer and puzzle game to teach facial expressions
M. Eckhardt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M. S. Goodwin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
R. W. Picard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Training Social Problem Solving Skills in Adolescents with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD)
Interactive computer program that teaches social problem solving skills
F. A. Boujarwah, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
H. Hong, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
J. Isbell, College of Education, Georgia State University
R. Arriaga, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
G. D. Abowd, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
L. J. Heflin, College of Education, Georgia State University

COMMUNICATION-SPEECH
Design and Evaluation of Interactive, Customizable and Extensible Speech Enabled Games as Speech Therapy for Kids with Autism
Interactive computerized game controlled by speech properties (i.e., loudness and rate)
M. E. Hoque, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M. S. Goodwin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
R. E. Kaliouby, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
R. W. Picard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Using Social Mirrors to Teach Conversation Skills to People with Social Skill Deficits
T. Bergstrom, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
K. Karahalios, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M. Dixon, University of Maryland
S. Wayland, Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland

Visualizing Multi-Syllabic Speech with Computers for Language Therapy
Visual computer interface that provides feedback on speech and conversational turn-taking
J. Hailpern, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
K. Karahalios, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
L. DeThorne, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
J. Halle, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
J. Lohrens, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

MISC
The Use of Ipod Technology as An Alternative and Augmentation Communication Device for Children with Autism
Use of iPods as alternative and augmentative communication devices
G. R. Mancil, Kentucky Autism Training Center, University of Louisville

Investigating the Role of Lateral Gaze and Peripheral Vision in Atypical Gaze at Human Faces with Children with ASD During Naturalistic Social Interactions
Wearable eye-gaze tracking device that records what a person can see and what s/he is looking at
A. G. Billard, EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
B. Noris, EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
F. Ansermet, University Hospital of Geneva
J. Nadel, CNRS and the University Pierre & Marie Curie

Wireless, in-Situ Measurement of Electrodermal Activity During Occupational Therapy
Wrist or ankle worn wireless autonomic nervous system to visualize and record physiological arousal
E. Hedman, Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M. L. J. Miller, Research Institute, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
M. S. Goodwin, Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
R. W. Picard, Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology