1. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Using a Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE) for participatory design sessions with students with autism VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Laura Millen, Sue Cobb, Ash Patel and Tony Glover

2. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Laura Millen PhD student Participatory design with children with autism Email: EMXLM@nottingham.ac.ukEMXLM@nottingham.ac.uk Website: http://goo.gl/DRmvLhttp://goo.gl/DRmvL

3. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Background COSPATIAL: technology for children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) http://cospatial.fbk.eu/ User-centred design Involved teachers throughout the design process Can we involve children with autism? How?

4. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) PD with children with ASC No guidelines or recommended methods Children with ASC have very specific needs Children with ASC Limited language / communicati on skills Poor imaginative skills Rigidity of thought processes Theory of mind Learning difficulties

5. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Millen, L., Cobb, S.V.G. & Patel, H (2010). Participatory design with children with autism: the development of collaborative virtual environments, Proc. 8th ICDVRAT (2010).

6. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Using CVE technology to support PD Children with ASC like technology CVEs remove the need for face- to-face communication Explore the use of CVE technology for supporting PD sessions with children with ASC Developed the Island of Ideas CVE

7. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART)

8. User representation 1.Using the CVE with avatars: Participants are represented by computer-generated characters or avatars. 2.Using the CVE with video pods. Island of Ideas CVE with video pods: Participants are presented through live video streaming and can see each other directly within the virtual environment via a video pod screen.

9. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station activities Station 1: Introduction to session Station 2: Playing the game Station 3: Describing the game Station 4a: Reviewing the game Station 4b: Ideas for a new level Station 5: My ideas gallery

10. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 1: Introduction to session Visual timetable “Photo” taken to personalise the Island

11. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 2: Playing the game Web browser based game 10 mins of free play Like / dislike / change Game played here

12. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 3: Describing the game Student asked to describe the game

13. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 4a: Reviewing the game Screenshots used to prompt discussion Type ideas on to the board

14. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 4b: Ideas for a new level Draw ideas for a new level using graphics tablet and paint program

15. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Station 5: My Ideas Gallery Ideas displayed and reviewed

16. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Evaluation study 12 students with ASC or Asperger’s Syndrome (11-14 years; 1 female, 11 male) 2 x 60 minute sessions using the Island of Ideas: 1.Playing a commercially available computer game; 2.Interview discussion with the researcher, answering questions about design features of the game just played; 3.Drawing ideas for a new level for the game.

17. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Results: Use of the CVE for PD Before the sessions, teachers said: – all 12 students were easily distracted, unable to focus or concentrate – Some students had poor motor skills, did not like drawing or had no imagination However, all 12 students: – stayed motivated and focused – found the graphics pen exciting and encouraging – participated in the drawing of ideas CVE may inspire or encourage students’ imaginative side or using the graphics tablet was sufficiently novel and exciting

18. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Results cont. Original game Student ideas for new level

19. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Student Questionnaire 5/12 students preferred using the CVE with the avatars 7/12 students preferred using the CVE with the video pods

20. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Review session AvatarsVideo podsThe Island of ideas “I preferred this one because you can choose the clothes” “Not enough variety” “Should be able to customise” “The mouth, arms and eyes should move when you’re talking” “Liked being able to choose the colour of the [avatar’s] top” “I preferred this one because I could mess about without [the researcher] seeing” “Useful because it shows your face and expressions” “It looks cool!” “You know who you are talking to” “Video pods are better because you can see the person” “Some shy people might not like the pods” “Easier to know what we’re doing and how we’re feeling” “More like real life” “Should be able to go somewhere – sail to another islands” “Play more games from a game list to get inspiration” “Choose from a list of backgrounds: Castle Island, Grand Canyon Island, Cruise ship” “Customise the island – add objects, trees, plants”.

21. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Summary Students with ASC can be involved in PD design activities CVE shows potential as PD tool Students enjoyed the sessions All students were able to put forward ideas for new games Slight preference for video pods Could the younger autism generation be more accepting of computer-mediated video communication?

22. VIRTUAL REALITY APLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM (VIRART) Laura Millen Sue Cobb: sue.cobb@nottingham.ac.uksue.cobb@nottingham.ac.uk Email: EMXLM@nottingham.ac.ukEMXLM@nottingham.ac.uk Website: http://goo.gl/DRmvLhttp://goo.gl/DRmvL