Google Glass May Be Able to Help Kids With Autism in Social Situations
A test showed the glasses can help kids understand other people's emotions.
Tech company Google debuted its Google Glass smart glasses in 2013. They didn’t take off with shoppers, but now researchers are looking for new ways to put the Google Glass technology to use.
As reported by Science News (via Engadget), a pilot trial detailed on npj Digital Medicine showed Google Glass may be able to help kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their social skills. The trial was conducted by a team at Stanford University — it combined Google Glass with an original Android app that would help kids understand the emotions people around them were expressing.
The trial had a limited number of participants - just 14 children - but the results were positive. After using the treatment for an average of 72 days (around 10 weeks), Science News said the children showed an improvement in their social skills, including “increased eye contact and ability to decode facial expressions.”
Science News pointed out that the trial didn’t have a control group of kids who didn’t use the same treatment. That unfortunately means it’s not possible to say whether Google Glass was the only reason the children in the trial showed improvement. Still, these results are a promising step in the right direction to helping children with ASD thrive.
If you’re looking for ways to help someone with ASD, the Autism Speaks website has a long list of apps that may help individuals with ASD (anyone can share their recommendations). If you’re looking for tools for kids, check out Parenting’s list of 11 apps for children with ASD, which were recommended by experts.
Libe MG Ackerman is the Editor-in-Chief of SuperParent, and a longtime gaming, digital media and television executive for companies such as Nickelodeon, AOL and Ziff Davis. She can often be found playing Pokemon Go with her son in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Follow her on Twitter: @libeackerman.
