VR exposure for training adolescents with ASD | Case study | R&D

Our motivational force to work with such a project was coming from our curiosity in human behaviour psychology and cognition. Moreover, 7 years ago I used to volunteer  in a daycare center for kids with ASD, therefore I was personally motivated to create an application that was meant to help individuals with ASD train adaptive skills in a safe environment.

Development process goes as follows:

1.  Firstly, scientific research and user research was carried out to lay down the foundation for the study.
2.  After obtaining necessary theoretical background we started planning, designing and directing the 360 video production.
3.  After the design completion, we were ready to film. All the 360 video shots were taken in the specific, well known to the test subject  locations. 
4.  After obtaining the video material it needed to be screened, selected, extracted and converted into equarectangular video material in 360fly Director.
5.  Final 360 video material was edited in Adobe After Effects.
6.  After the final point of view 360 video training was ready, it’s usability was tested using Oculus Rift.
7.  Final product was delivered to the stakeholder for the final user/subject testing.

As this case study is within the field of behaviour science and the experiment is focused on only one individual, the chosen design method was single subject design.

An adolescent with a diagnosis of ASD that aged 15 years old was purposefully recruited for one week long treatment phase. 

The correlation between the independent and dependent variables, which are made up of two phases: the A (baseline) phase and the B (treatment) phase was measured:

• Baseline phase – series of baseline observations made by the stakeholder (student’s teacher), with the aid of a custom comfortability and motivation data sheet, which measures levels of comfortability to take the bus and informal interview investigation of student’s reasons why he doesn’t want to take a bus.  
• Treatment phase – series of treatment observations also made by the  stakeholder after introducing a VR treatment. Evaluation method with the same comfort and motivation data sheet.

We obtained two data sets: subject’s and steakholder’s self assessment through motivation and cofidence scales:

Obtained data was discussed carefully during the informal interviews with the stakeholder.

According to the baseline phase and the treatment phase result comparison there was no significant difference. Subject claims to feel the same level of confidence before and after the treatment.
Hardly anything can be concluded, as the treatment phase needs to be longer and more data needs to be collected.