Assessing Social Communication and Collaboration in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Intelligent Collaborative Virtual Environments

Existing literature regarding social communication outcomes of interventions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) depends upon human raters, with limited generalizability to real world settings. Technological innovation, particularly virtual reality (VR) and collaborative virtual environments (CVE), co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 199 - 211
Main Authors Zhang, Lian, Weitlauf, Amy S., Amat, Ashwaq Zaini, Swanson, Amy, Warren, Zachary E., Sarkar, Nilanjan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 2020
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Accuracy
Adolescent
Artificial Intelligence
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Case-Control Studies
Child and School Psychology
Collaboration
Communication
Computer applications
Computer Simulation
Cooperation
Educational aspects
Female
Generalizability
Group work in education
Health aspects
Humans
Innovations
Intelligence
Intelligent agents
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication in children
Male
Measurement
Neurosciences
Original Paper
Pediatrics
Peer Group
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Psychology
Public Health
Social aspects
Social Behavior
Team learning approach in education
Technological change
Technology
Virtual Reality
United States
Measurement
Autism
Technology
Collaboration
Virtual reality
Communication
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Summary:Existing literature regarding social communication outcomes of interventions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) depends upon human raters, with limited generalizability to real world settings. Technological innovation, particularly virtual reality (VR) and collaborative virtual environments (CVE), could offer a replicable, low cost measurement platform when endowed with intelligent agent technology and peer-based interactions. We developed and piloted a novel collaborative virtual environment and intelligent agent (CRETA) for the assessment of social communication and collaboration within system and peer interactions. The system classified user statements with moderate to high accuracies. We found moderate to high agreement in displayed communication and collaboration skills between human–human and human–agent interactions. CRETA offers a promising avenue for future development of autonomous measurement systems for ASD research.
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Author Contributions: LZ, AW, ZW, and NS conceived of the study and crafted the experimental design. LZ, NS, and ZW helped design the CVE procedure. LZ, ZW, and AS provided oversight of study implementation across Vanderbilt sites. LZ, AA, and AS assisted with data collection and analysis for manuscript preparation. LZ, AW, AA, ZW, and NS significantly participated in drafting the article, revising it critically, and providing final approval of the manuscript. All authors are in agreement with accountability for all aspects of the work.
Lian Zhang, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Amy S. Weitlauf, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center / Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Ashwaq Zaini Amat, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Amy Swanson, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center / Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Zachary Warren, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Special Education, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center / Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Nilanjan Sarkar, Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Lian Zhang is now at Facebook.
ISSN:0162-3257
1573-3432
DOI:10.1007/s10803-019-04246-z