simon_bignell_relive08
DESCRIPTION
Simon BIgnell's presentation from the Open University conference ReLIVE08 2008. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the individual Simon Bignell and not University of Derby.TRANSCRIPT
Social Communication Skills of People Diagnosed with Autism
and Asperger's in 3D Multi-User Virtual Worlds
Simon Bignell
Lecturer in Psychology, University of [email protected]
Introduction
• I am Simon Bignell my Avatar in Second Life is Milton Broome.
• I am a lecturer in Psychology at University of Derby in the UK.
• I teach a module at Derby University called “Autism, Asperger’s and ADHD”.
• I have been using Second Life for teaching and educational research and more recently looking at Autism and Asperger’s in Second Life.
The Unique Properties of Second Life
• Allows accessible anonymous social interaction.• Has the potential to be ‘Safe and Secure’, free
from the threat of physical intimidation.• Provides high levels of social interactivity but
without complex linguistic and social-behavioural processing necessary for face-to-face conversations.
• Visually very believable and immersive.• Can act to levels the playing field for people with
disabilities.
Project
• Second Life allows the exchange of conversation to be slowed down and managed whilst maintaining the social interactivity of real life communication.
• For people with mental and/or physical disabilities reducing the complex social and language processing necessary for meaningful relationships is crucial.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
A continuum that… “…ranges from the most profoundly physically
and mentally retarded person ... to the most able, highly intelligent person with social impairment in its subtlest form as his only disability. It overlaps with learning disabilities and shades into eccentric normality.”
Lorna wing
What Is Autism?
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour.
Impairment in social interaction.
Impairment in verbal and non verbal communication.
What Is Asperger’s Disorder?
• The triad of impairment summarises the difficulties of the Autistic person but the actual manifestation of these can vary. Asperger’s may be a subtler form of ASD.
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour.
Impairment in social interaction.
Impairment in verbal and non verbal communication.
Peculiarities in verbal and non verbal communication.
Current projects…
• Social Communication Skills of people with Asperger’s and high-functioning Autism in virtual worlds– People with Autism can have considerable
communication difficulties in social situations and higher level language skills, such as inferring intentions or mental states from others, are often impaired.
– This pilot project investigate if Second Life can be of use to them in (evaluating) developing social and communicative skills.
Current projects
• People with Autism often have communication problems. – They often choose to communicate in ways that allow
them to slow down the process, for example email, text, internet messaging and social networking web sites.
• Typed vs. Spoken Communication– Face to face communication bandwidth is of the order
of 150 to 200 words per minute.– Typing for most is 15 to 20 wpm, therefore e-
communication is approx 10 times slower than face to face or voice.
Current projects
• This link between social communication impairment and virtual worlds may explain why many people with Autism are reported to find 3D virtual worlds rewarding.
• Can we detect social language problems in high functioning Autistics by using a virtual world methodology? What lessons can we learn?
• If we can conduct reliable and valid research in virtual worlds with clinical populations the implications for provision of cost-effective ‘virtual’ interventions for people with Autism are considerable.
Social Role Plays in Second Life• Social Introductions; Social Rules (faux pas); Problem Solving;
Misunderstanding (Ambiguous Words).
• E.G.: Misunderstanding Task:
Avatars role play a social conversation about the gym. Person A is the participant (Autistic), Person B is the experimenter, Person C is a research assistant.
1. A ← B Likes the staff at the gym but complains about her shoes rubbing so can’t continue.
2. A ← C Hates the staff at the gym.
3. A is involved in a conversation and sees B ↔ C: (B)“My trainers are a real problem for me!”, (C)“Yes, me too!”, (B)“Really?”, (C)“Yes, I don’t like the way they talk to me.”, (B)“Huh?, That’s impossible!” etc….
Vid 1
TestsAdapted version of Test of Language Competence
(Expanded Edition), “Mum looked really low today.”
TestsThe Multiple Meanings in Context Subtest. From Understanding Ambiguity (Rinaldi, 1996). “Mrs Smith was late for school. She said, ‘I’m sorry I’m late, the road was jammed solid this morning.”
vids
Results/Lessons• No major differences between ‘Autistic’ group
and ‘Non-Autistic’ group.– It may be the case that there were differences but we
didn’t detect them (Type II Error).– Our groups were not selected reliably.– Second Life was too messy.– Not enough people are using voice to recruit.– Generalisations from population are dubious.– Ceiling effects (too easy) on adapted tests.– Experimental control is difficult to ensure.– Can’t get reliable reaction times.– Dedicated tests are needed and extensive piloting is
required.
• Teaching in Second Life at Higher Education level…– Challenging– Requires planning and
continual development– Needs a flexible attitude
towards learning– Possibly requires relinquishing
control to the learner– Enthusiasm and belief in the
platform as a tool not a game– Support from scripters and
builders– A reflective and action-oriented
approach to teaching methods– Lots and lots and lots of time to
ensure it has value for students– If Second Life doesn’t improve
your students’ learning experience don’t use it!
Research in Second Life Informs Teaching in Real Life
• Second Life provides an opportunity for:– Sense of community– Social skills rehearsal– Safety to make mistakes– A space to make friends and personally develop – A place to share information– A place to simulate social interactions of real life– Research and interaction.– Potentially a therapeutic environment.
The potential of Second Life for people with Autistic Spectrum
Disorder
Future projects
• Autism Simulator– We are developing, with the Autistic
community, a project that will demonstrate/simulate some of the sensory sensitivities of people with Autism.
– Light– Noise– Touch– Attention focus– Associated comorbidity
PREVIEW-Psych Project
Webpage: http://PREVIEW-Psych.orgSee also Milton Broome’s Virtual Psychology Blog for overview
www.MiltonBroome.com / [email protected]
• Upskilling Day for Psychology subject group (March 2008)• Mentoring Scheme for six institutions (From January 2008)
Contact
Simon Bignell (Second Life Avatar: Milton Broome) Lecturer in Psychology at University of Derby
Blog: http://miltonbroome.comTwitter: MiltonBroome
See also Eduserv’s ‘snapshot’ of UK HE and FE developments in SL www.virtualworldwatch.net for overview