The design principles of edutainment system for autistic children with communication difficulties

Approximately 50% of all individuals with Autism have difficulties in developing functional language owing to communication deterioration. Mobile devices with installed educational games help these individuals feel more comfortable and relaxed doing such activities. Although numerous mobile applications are available for individuals with Autism, they are difficult to use; particularly in terms of user-interface design. From the analysis of existing apps for autistic children, an app design principles are proposed based on interaction design (IxD), that would fulfil the users’ requirements in a better manner. Five applications were involved in this analysis. The analysis identified fifteen suggestions for the design principles. These recommendations are offered by this paper towards designing and developing a prototype app for autistic children. This paper introduces an edutainment-system design principle formulated to help develop the communication skills of children with Autism-spectrum disorders.

[1]  Joseph Mintz,et al.  Additional key factors mediating the use of a mobile technology tool designed to develop social and life skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Evaluation of the 2nd HANDS prototype , 2013, Comput. Educ..

[2]  Edmond Prakash,et al.  Measuring student acceptance of game based learning for game and technology education curriculum development , 2014, 2014 International Conference on Education Technologies and Computers (ICETC).

[3]  Syahrul Afzal Che Abdullah,et al.  Educational App for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) , 2014 .

[4]  Ian J. Pitt,et al.  Interaction design: a multidimensional approach for learners with autism , 2006, IDC '06.

[5]  Micah O. Mazurek,et al.  Video Game Use and Problem Behaviors in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders. , 2013 .

[6]  Russell Lang,et al.  Pivotal Response Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review , 2013, Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[7]  André Neiva Pereira Alves Tactile Interfaces for Television Post-production Environments , 2013 .

[8]  Abdulmotaleb El-Saddik,et al.  An edutainment system for assisting qatari children with moderate intellectual and learning disability through exerting physical activities , 2013, 2013 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON).

[9]  Khalid Alnafjan,et al.  A Usability Evaluation of Arabic Mobile Applications Designed for Children with Special Needs — Autism , 2015 .

[10]  Joy F. Xin,et al.  Using iPads to Teach Communication Skills of Students with Autism , 2015, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[11]  Ian Pitt,et al.  Usability Evaluation of Educational Game Software for Children with Autism , 2008 .

[12]  Nancy Jean Rasche Design strategy for the development of applications for autism instruction , 2013 .

[13]  Micah O. Mazurek,et al.  Television, Video Game and Social Media Use Among Children with ASD and Typically Developing Siblings , 2012, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[14]  Andrew Cooke,et al.  Design principles for the development of measurement systems for research and development processes , 1997 .

[15]  Jill K. Dolata,et al.  Children with Autism in the Inclusive Preschool Classroom: A Systematic Review of Single-Subject Design Interventions on Social Communication Skills , 2014 .

[16]  Christine M. Freitag,et al.  Differentiation between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder by the Social Communication Questionnaire , 2014, ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders.

[17]  Arif Raza,et al.  Usability issues for smartphone users with special needs — Autism , 2013, 2013 International Conference on Open Source Systems and Technologies.

[18]  Dean Sutherland,et al.  Acquisition, Preference, and Follow-up Data on the Use of Three AAC Options by Four Boys with Developmental Disability/Delay , 2014 .

[19]  Riaza Mohd Rias,et al.  Using mobile game application to teach children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) multiple cues responding: A pilot study , 2014, 2014 3rd International Conference on User Science and Engineering (i-USEr).

[20]  Murni Mahmud,et al.  Utilization of mobile apps among student with learning disability from Islamic perspective , 2013, 2013 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology for the Muslim World (ICT4M).

[21]  Husniza Husni,et al.  Translating interaction design guidelines for dyslexic children’s reading application , 2013 .