Monday, February 4, 2008

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Virtual reality helps autistic children

Avui incorporated to the web, news I've seen posted to the blog of that participant SOCRATES (videotecautista, that m'ha semblat i molt interessant. Aquesta notícia fa reference to a study demostrates that autistic millor els nens the seva Habilitat Carrer Creu amb Despres practice a system of virtual realitat.

Virtual reality helps autistic children


Through recent research conducted at the University of Haifa found that children with autism improved their safety skills across the street after practicing with a unique virtual reality.

Through recent research conducted at the University of Haifa found that children with autism improved their safety skills across the street after practicing with a unique virtual reality. "Children with a degree of autism rarely have opportunities to experience or learn to cope with everyday situations. The use of virtual simulations are used in this research enables them to acquire skills that will enable them to be, somewhat independent," teachers expressed Josman and Weiss, Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Haifa.

The independence of children with autism depends on their receiving treatment in a natural environment. One of the main problems they face is their inability to learn how to cross the street, a necessary skill to lead an independent life. Acquiring this skill would be a step forward in the attainment of independence in children. Most methods for teaching street crossing have been designed for use in the classroom, and have been shown as insufficiently effective among autistic children.

The best way to teach children with autism is through repeated practice in natural environments, but the danger of learning in a natural setting obviously prohibits this method. This is where virtual reality is very effective, as demonstrated by the research team that included Hadass Milika Ben-Chaim, a former student in the Occupational Therapy Program obtain the expertise and Shula Friedrich, Head of Ofer School for Autistic Children, in addition Prof. Josman and Prof. Weiss.

Six autistic children, ages 7-12, spent one month learning how to cross virtual streets, Wait for the virtual light switch in the crosswalk and look from right to left for virtual cars using a program simulator created by Yuval Naveh. Children in the study showed a substantial improvement in the learning process. At the beginning of the study the average child was able to use the 2nd level of the software while at the end they mastered the 9th level, characterized by the increase in vehicles traveling at high speed.
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However, the research team did not have to teach a virtual skill; they wanted to see if the children were able to transfer the skills learned virtual to the real world, the daily routine.

A local area with a street and crosswalk, complete with traffic signals, was used for this purpose. The ability of children to cross the street safely was tested, for example, if they stood and waited on the sidewalk if the green light before crossing.

The children were taken to the practice area before and after their virtual learning. Here too, the children exhibited an improvement in their skills after training on the virtual street, three of the children showing considerable improvement.

One participant, aged 16, had themselves been in school in a program of road safety, but he was not able to learn to cross the street safely. Followed by learning in a virtual environment, he learned to stand on the sidewalk before crossing the street, looking at the color of traffic lights, cross only when the light was green and not wait too long.

"Previous studies have shown that autistic children respond well to computer learning. In this research we learned that the intelligence level or degree of severity of autism does not affect the ability for children to understand both the system and so this is an important way to better the social and cognoscitivas capacity, "resumieron FACULTY Josman and Weiss.

University of Haifa

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