The project: ”Integration of children with autism to society through ICT: IN-AUTIS-TIC” (2013), led by Narcís Parés, lecturer of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) at Pompeu Fabra University, principal investigator of the project financed by Recercaixa, has involved the creation of a video game based on a full-body system of interaction that aims to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to manifest and to incorporate social interaction strategies. The facility was developed in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths , University of London, and the Developmental Disorders Unit of Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona.

A magical world hidden under a virtual fog

A circular projection on the ground measuring six metres in diameter presents a magical world of four kingdoms hidden under a virtual fog that children can actively explore by moving in space that is both virtual and physical at the same time, with the peculiarity that both the scenes and the magical creatures that inhabit them only appear and are activated when the children explore the territory, interact with the environment or cooperate with each other.

The facility, which targets special education and inclusive education centres, has already been tested on a group of 68 children between 10 and 14 years of age both in a laboratory study at UPF, and at an inclusive school in London. The researchers have found that the game increases and diversifies attitudes of social initiation and collaboration, such as joint attention, integrated demands, coordination, etc., counteracting shortcomings in socialization and communication abilities that are typical of children with ASD.

As Parés, principal investigator of the project, explains; “the inclusive school in London is the paradigm of a centre where this facility makes sense. In fact, the good acceptance by the children and professionals, and the good results obtained, have meant that this school is very keen in the medium term to incorporate an infrastructure like this on an ongoing basis, thus opening up the feasibility of doing so in many other centres”.

Coinciding with the awarding of the Recercaixa grants on 27 January, Narcís Parés’s project was one of the three projects selected as a success story for its results and its benefits to society.