A VIDEO-MODELING SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING SOCIAL SKILLS AND LEXICON IN AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER CHILDREN.

According to current diagnostic criteria, children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by the absence of social communication, difficulties in maintaining visual contact with people, and limited focus of attention on specific multisensory cues. Frequently detected deficits consist of a lack of social initiations and responses, social speech, empathy, and joint attention. In this field, video modeling has been one of the most used technology to capture the attention of ASD children, allowing them new kinds of learning. In this work, two real life scenarios have been ideated and modeled, in order to provide a virtual environment for ASD children’s education. In particular, this 3D video modeling system has been developed with the aim of supporting and helping psychologists, therapists, teachers and families in showing different social skills to ASD subjects. The educational path consists in short filmed clips of a virtual agent with targeted behaviors. Hence, some specific skills can be showed and motivate, as the maintaining of the eye contact, the naming of objects, and daily life communication events. Keywords: Learning, virtual environments, Autism Spectrum Disorders, technology, assessment, video modeling, teaching-learning models, multimedia environment.