A Comparison of Interactive and Robotic Systems in Therapy and Education for Children with Autism

In this paper we discuss the use of interactive environments in autism therapy. In particular we review the Aurora project and summarise the results of three studies within Aurora project, one using a non-humanoid mobile robot, one using a small humanoid doll robot, and the last using a touch sensitive screen. All three studies seek, in different ways, to promote social skills and an enhanced sense of self and other. We draw some comparisons between the technologies.

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