Local Entrepreneur-Scientist Develops Google Glass Program For Kids With Autism

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – For the estimated one in 68 American children now born with disorders on the autism spectrum, technology could be a powerful tool. And, if Cambridge-based entrepreneur-scientist Ned Sahin has his way, kids will be able to harness the intuitive power of Google Glass to navigate the world in a way that makes sense. For a little more than a year, Sahin and his employees at Brain Power have been developing programs for Google Glass that encourage kids with autism to make eye contact, engage in conversation and more easily read social situations. For example, in one program, a child looks through the tiny lens to see the person he or she is looking at. Next to that person’s face is an icon that illustrates his/her feeling. It offers an “assist” to help the child read the situation. A child looks through the glass to see his smiling mother and, next to her face, sees an image of a smiley face. The child comes to recognize that expression as one of joy and can react appropriately. Image from Brain Power program (WBZ-TV) Another program builds on that by asking the child to choose what the other person is feeling from two icons that appear in the glass. Choosing correctly earns the child a point. Encouraged by the “game” the child continues to engage. And, at the end of the day, both parent and child can see how often he/she guessed correctly. Sahin’s team has created programs to help with language, too. Now, they are excited to enlist more familie...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Autism Cambridge CBS Boston Google Glasses Lisa Hughes tech Source Type: news