Espositori 2016
- ARDUINO
- HOME AUTOMATION
- YOUNG MAKERS (< 18)
- FABRICATION
- FASHION & WEARABLES
- INTERNET OF THINGS
- EDUCATION
- KIDS & EDUCATION
- OPEN SOURCE
- GAMES
- RECYCLING & UPCYCLING
- ROBOTICS
- SCIENCE
- ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
- MUSIC & SOUND
- ARTISANS & NEW CRAFT
- 3D PRINTING
- ART
- BIOLOGY
- FOOD & AGRICULTURE
- DRONES
- WELLNESS & HEALTHCARE
- HACKS
- 3D SCANNING
- CULTURAL HERITAGE
- STEAM PUNK
- CROWDFUNDING
+me: motivating children with autism to communicate and socially interact through interactive soft wearable devices.
The +me appears as a soft pillow, animal shaped, that can be worn around the neck. In response to touch and caress, it can emit coloured lights or sounds, a type of sensorial stimuli very effective in capturing the attention of the autistic child. The therapist who uses the +me during the rehabilitation session with the baby, can modify and alter the outputs of +me through an application connected to the device via bluetooth. For example he can change the type of color or the type of sound, or create particular patterns, according to the child reactions. In this way several playful activities, requiring the collaboration of adult and child to obtain enjoyable outcomes, could be implemented, so increasing the social skill of the child.
The +me is still in the experimental phase, and is addressed to autistic childs aged between 3 and 7. Although the main focus of the project is the Autism Spectrum Disorder, the device could be used as a therapeutic tool for other conditions like generalised developmental disorders, communicative disorders, mental retardation or relational disorders.
The electronics supporting sensors and actuators is Arduino-based and is hidden within the +me.
The +me was developed by Beste Ozcan, Valerio Sperati, Tania Moretta, Gianluca Baldassarre (from Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies ISTC; Rome), Simone Scaffaro, Alessandro Medda (from rehabilitation centre INI Villa Dante, Guidonia).
Beste Ozcan; Valerio Sperati; Tania Moretta; Gianluca Baldassarre; Simone Scaffaro; Alessandro Medda
Valerio Sperati: MA in Experimental Psychology, PhD student in Computer Science;
Tania Moretta: MA in Cognitive Neurosciences and Psycological Rehabilitation;
Simone Scaffaro: MA in Neuro-Motor Rehabilitation Therapy
Alessandro Medda: MA in Competence-Social Rehabilitation Therapy
Gianluca Baldassarre: PhD in Computer Science (laboratory supervisor at ISTC-CNR)