Research project Platform for Smart People

People on the autism spectrum face particular challenges. Tasks that neurotypical people take for granted to do easily, for example planning a day, may be out of the abilities for people with autism. But they still have to live independently and work.

To overcome these barriers, there are potential opportunities based on current research and development. Augmented Reality (AR) means that the real world is augmented with digital objects (graphics, audio and haptics) by detecting actual-world objects, tracking positions, sensing distance and depth, and integrating light settings. Previous research shows the feasibility of using AR for helping people with autism with tasks such as social communication skills and independent living.

Machine learning is a tool that can automate some of the tasks to make the augmented world more accessible, such as identifying real-world objects. However, machine learning has a so-called cold-start problem where big data sets are needed to make it useful. To overcome this, a civic intelligence component is needed, where staff at day activity centres can contribute with individual adaptations that they know work for each person.

We aim to combine the advances above and integrate them with the research efforts of the global public inclusive infrastructure. An iterative co-design process will ensure that requirements for people with autism are met in the platform which will include an accessible AR app. Several day activity centres in Stockholm are involved and we believe that the results can have a wide outreach.

The full title for this project is “Platform for Smart People: Understanding inclusion challenges to design and develop an independent living platform in a smart society for and with people with autism”.

The project Advisory Board consists of representatives from Autism- och Aspergerförbundet, Rinkeby-Kista Day Activity Centre, IBM, Trace R&D Centre and Raising the Floor.