DocumentCode :
26888
Title :
Design and Development of a Virtual Dolphinarium for Children With Autism
Author :
Yiyu Cai ; Chia, N.K.H. ; Thalmann, Daniel ; Kee, N.K.N. ; Jianmin Zheng ; Thalmann, Nadia M.
Author_Institution :
Inst. for Media Innovation, Nanyang Technol. Univ., Singapore, Singapore
Volume :
21
Issue :
2
fYear :
2013
fDate :
Mar-13
Firstpage :
208
Lastpage :
217
Abstract :
The recent proliferation of virtual reality (VR) technology applications in the autism therapy to promote learning and positive behavior among such children has produced optimistic results in developing a variety of skills and abilities in them. Dolphin-assisted therapy has also become a topic of public and research interest for autism intervention and treatment. This paper will present an innovative design and development of a Virtual Dolphinarium for potential autism intervention. Instead of emulating the swimming with dolphins, our virtual dolphin interaction program will allow children with autism to act as dolphin trainers at the poolside and to learn (nonverbal) communication through hand gestures with the virtual dolphins. Immersive visualization and gesture-based interaction are implemented to engage children with autism within an immersive room equipped with a curved screen spanning a 320 and a high-end five-panel projection system. This paper will also report a pilot study to establish trial protocol of autism screening to explore the participants´ readiness for the virtual dolphin interaction. This research will have two potential benefits in the sense of helping children with autism and protecting the endangered species.
Keywords :
computer aided instruction; gesture recognition; medical disorders; paediatrics; patient treatment; virtual reality; autism screening; autism therapy; autism treatment; children; curved screen spanning; dolphin-assisted therapy; gesture-based interaction; hand gestures; high-end five-panel projection system; immersive visualization; learning behavior; potential autism intervention; swimming; virtual dolphin interaction program; virtual dolphinarium; virtual reality; Autism; Dolphins; Educational institutions; Media; Pediatrics; Visualization; Autism; dolphins; immersive and interactive learning; nonverbal communication; virtual reality (VR); Adolescent; Autistic Disorder; Biofeedback, Psychology; Child; Computer Graphics; Female; Gestures; Humans; Male; Nonverbal Communication; Software; Software Design; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Treatment Outcome; User-Computer Interface;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
1534-4320
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TNSRE.2013.2240700
Filename :
6419839
Link To Document :
بازگشت