On the Evaluation of Engagement in Immersive Applications When Users Are on the Autism Spectrum.

Researchers tested how well young adults with autism engage with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. They found these technologies were engaging for autistic participants and could be helpful for developing new treatments. The study suggests that some aspects of how autistic people respond to these technologies, which might seem like challenges, could actually be advantages when designing VR/AR programs for autism support.

This study evaluated engagement with VR and AR headsets in high-functioning autistic adults aged 21-23. Researchers developed behavioral observation frameworks to measure engagement across different immersive scenarios and headsets. The study aimed to understand how autistic individuals engage with immersive technologies and translate findings into guidelines for VR/AR-based autism treatment development. Results indicated that immersive experiences were engaging for participants, and some apparent evaluation challenges could actually provide advantages for designing VR/AR treatments for autistic people.

The research contributes to establishing appropriate evaluation methods for immersive technology interventions in autism.

Findings suggest VR/AR technologies may be viable tools for autism interventions, but specialized evaluation frameworks are needed. The research highlights importance of adapting assessment methods to autistic users' unique responses rather than using neurotypical benchmarks.

Small, specific age group (21-23 years) of high-functioning autistic adults limits generalizability. Sample size not reported. Study design unclear. Limited detail on specific engagement measures and their validation for autistic populations.

New generation wearable devices allow for the development of interactive environments tailored for Virtual Reality (VR)- and Augmented Reality (AR)-based treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Experts agree on their potential; however, there is lack of consensus on how to perform trials and the need arises for evaluation frameworks, methods, and techniques appropriate for the ASD population. In this paper, we report on a study conducted with high-functioning ASD people in the 21-23 age range, with the objectives of (1) evaluating the engagement of two headsets offering distinct immersive experiences, (2) reasoning on the interpretation of engagement factors in the case of ASD people, and (3) translating results into general guidelines for the development of VR/AR-based ASD treatment. To this aim, we (1) designed two engagement evaluation frameworks based on behavioral observation measures, (2) set up two packages of reference immersive scenarios, (3) defined the association between metrics and scenarios, and (4) administered the scenarios in distinct sessions for the investigated headsets.

Results show that the immersive experiences are engaging and that the apparent lack of success of some evaluation factors can become potential advantages within the framework of VR/AR-based ASD treatment design.