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How Apps are Helping People with Autism

On July 31, 2018

Technology is improving day in and day out, and with that comes the power to transcend just silly games, instant messaging, and social media. With that comes the power to actually make a change and use apps to help people access the world in different ways. They can be used as both an accessibility resource and a research to keep children learning in ways that work for them. A predominance of these apps focuses on helping children with autism practice skills in an encouraging and fun one. Here are a couple examples of those apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Android:

Autism iHelp

Autism iHelp is an aid that teaches vocabulary words and includes 72 photographs paired with vocabulary words and learning enhancement activities. These activities are presented as games in order to focus on retention and auditory and visual memory. The app was developed through the collaboration of a speech-language pathologist and the parents of a child with autism.

Upper Case–Autism Series

This app is specifically meant for Android opposed to iPhone and iPad. The app provides coloring pages that help children learn the alphabet, and is specifically designed for younger children and toddlers.

Autism and PDD Concepts Lite

This iPad and iPhone app offer a wide range of stories and corresponding questions. It aims to increase reading comprehension and understanding.

Autism Aid App

This app, as well, is only available for Android and has been received with quite high ratings from users. It has a number of functions. It allows families to seek out help in case of an emergency, it helps children on the autism spectrum develop their communication skills, and lastly, it brings attention to external services available for both children with autism and their families.

Articulation Station

Articulation Station was created by a certified speech-language pathologist and helps children learn how to speak and pronounce words and sounds. The words being tuned are paired with high-quality images in order to engage in multiple modes of learning, as well as fun activities and games to keep your children engaged.

See.Touch.Learn.

This app focuses on the importance of visual instruction, a way which particularly benefits many people with autism. This app has thousands of picture based flashcards and exercises built off of them, and also includes the ability to create custom lessons and to expand the library of flashcards once a set has been mastered.

The Role Technology Plays in Startups

By Russ Ewell

On July 27, 2018

In Blog

Today’s world is, more than ever, propelled by innovative technology that is a major force behind the functioning of startups. Technology is playing many parts in the growth of startups. It changes the way that advertising is done and who it is able to reach, helps manage financial and statistic information within the startup, can keep employees connected in new ways, and more.

Technology is adding tactics beyond those which are considered orthodox to the wheelhouse of startups. Technology can be used to drive revenue for countries while simultaneously providing increased accessibility. Here are some potential ways that technology can help startups grow and compete:

Improve Customer Service with the Cloud

The cloud can help you combine customer experience and service into one central locus. The cloud is a great place to bridge an immediate gap between the customer and your customer service rep, thus allowing them to understand where the customer is coming from much better via apps and shared information.

Use Amazon Alexa as an Assistant

Amazon Alexa is an incredibly useful piece of technology. It is a base for so many sorts of information and resources that are all just a vocalization away. Additionally, by connecting Alexa to your personal documents and resources you can ask for information verbally without having to shuffle through papers or sift through files. This may only save a couple of minutes or seconds here and there, but your time is very valuable and these minutes and seconds all add up. She can also be used to send an email verbally, create a to-do list, notify you when a customer is contacting you, and more.

Utilize Managed IT Services to Secure Your Network

It is quite expensive to have a well-staffed IT department to avoid getting hacked. Often, hackers target small businesses and startups as they know that their defenses may not be as strong. CNBC reports that, in 2017, almost 6 in 10 businesses reported that they had received a cyber attack. However, Managed IT Servers have become increasingly prominent as a way for small businesses and startups to defend against cyber threats and become less vulnerable and increasingly fortified, at a very affordable cost.

These services can offer high-powered solutions to be proactive in fending off cyber attacks and maintain a secure company and information base. This defense will give your company the space and safety that it needs for growth.

A New Niche For Smart Glasses

By Russ Ewell

On March 20, 2018

In Blog

Wearable technology is a relatively recent field that has exploded in popularity in recent years. The Fitbit and similar smartwatches are near-ubiquitous and can be seen on wrists young and old. Medical devices have gained popularity in the industry for their ability to enable patients to monitor their own health.

However, it hasn’t been all revolutionary breakthroughs. Some products do not resonate as well as others. Smart eyewear has become the black sheep of the wearable family, lampooned for its strange appearance and debatable utility. The challenge with these glasses seems to be making a device that people would actually want to wear, with companies such as Intel edging closer to that sweet spot.

Even as smart eyewear struggles to find its place in the world of wearables, it does find a niche helping special needs children learn. Technology such as non-traditional keyboards designed for autistic students is already popular among education professionals working with these children. Google Glass, the poster child for misguided attempts at eyewear technology, has nevertheless rebranded itself as a product for businesses looking to improve the skills of their workers on the spot. Additionally, it has promised utility for the classroom, helping autistic children learn.

Among these students, the results have been noteworthy. All eight children tested by Harvard University’s Department of Psychology were able to successfully use the device without stress. Researchers used smartglasses as a way to help children identify social cues based on facial expressions and other minute changes that autistic individuals have difficulty identifying. They also discussed the need for devices that are aesthetically pleasing, so that the users are less likely to face stigma for their use. All participants did, however, report that they would be willing to use the glasses again in a different setting.

As with anything else designed for special needs students, it is important that their opinions are solicited before coming to any conclusions. If the technology is untested, it can be uncomfortable for the individuals at best or overwhelming at worst. Caregivers can be fundamental in ensuring that these devices supplement the help that they are already providing. In this way, Google Glass seems to be a great method for teaching the subtleties of social interaction that may be hard to impart through other educational methods. Smartglasses worn on a consistent basis can provide support on the spot, with the potential to radically affect a child’s perceptions of the environments in which he or she grows up. This, in turn, can lead to positive improvement in development and psychological well-being.

That said, it is still not a perfect technology. Less-than-stellar attitudes toward smartglasses may make some less willing to use them in social situations. Additionally, physical concerns about the glasses staying in place with head movements are also worth noting.

Assitive Technology and Autism

By Russ Ewell

On February 26, 2018

In Blog

Evolving over decades, technology has changed the way society functions. From advanced features in homes such as a refrigerator that plays music to a vacuum that roams your home all on its own. In addition to lifestyle convince, technology has had a huge impact in advancing the way we communicate and learn– particularly in the area of developmental skills with those who have disabilities. In a growing trend, technology is a tool used to enhance how students learn in school.

About 1 in 68 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This developmental disability can affect speech, language, cognitive learning, and more.

When technology first emerged for children, many parents were skeptical (and many still are) to allowing their children time with technology. Mindless video games and television shows seemed to have no educational value to their children, thus only wasting their time. In efforts to utilize this advanced power, teachers and engineers have drastically changed the idea of wasteful technology– enter what is called “assistive technology”.

For individuals with autism, developmental skills and communication are a challenge. Through assistive technology, someone on the autism spectrum can have improved quality of life. The Autism Speaks’ Innovative Technology for Autism Initiative (ITA) advocates to adapt and promote technology in order to positively impact individuals with autism

One of the common forms of technology for individuals with autism are PDAs. Personal Digital Assistants have come a long way since their creation. They are popular among businessmen and entrepreneurs, but are also a great tool for people on the autism spectrum. PDAs allow individuals to stay organized and on top of their schedule. A PDA eases frustration of an individual with autism by allowing them to be more independent and keeping track of their activities. PDAs provide reminders to move from one task to another, without the need of human interaction.

Many people with autism prefer computer interaction over human communication. Assistive devices create a world where they feel less anxious and reduced frustration for easier human communication. Think of a basic cell phone. People carry their phones everything. From cameras and calendars to speed dial and contacts, cell phones allow for easy functionality with everyday tasks. Quick phone calls or text messages make communicating through cell phones convenient and less stressful than in-person contact at times.

Another form of assistive technology that individuals with autism favor are ipads and mobile devices. Applications are readily downloadable with interactive games. Beyond general gaming, apps can help track migraines, seizures, sleep, medications and more. Apps can assist with cognitive development, behaviors/cues, and communication.

Assistive technology is a digital tool that improves cognitive learning and communication for individuals with autism. More importantly, it creates and builds confidence. These tools help people with autism navigate social situations. Thanks to technology, we are able to bridge a gap between typically developing children, and children on the autism spectrum.

Virtual Reality for Kids with Autism

By Russ Ewell

On February 23, 2018

In Blog

VR got quite a moment in the spotlight this past Christmas. From a commercial featuring Lebron James and his family to the huge push for smartphone-compatible headsets, the tech world highly anticipated that VR would make a huge cultural impact and change the way that entertainment is produced and consumed.

Virtual Reality has long been a dream of programmers. For most of the history of visual entertainment, the mode of intake was one square screen such as a television or a movie screen, and today, a smartphone. However, adventures and life take place in three dimensions, in front and in back of the subject. Virtual Reality would add a more “real” feeling to movies, video games, and more.

Beyond entertainment, many anticipated some very practical applications of VR to corporate training and army training. For first responders, for example, virtual reality could augment the training programs and better prepare police, paramedics, and more to respond in a timely manner calmly and professionally. From testing best practices to continued development, VR offers a lot more than handbooks and tutorials by allowing a person to fully immerse their eyes and minds into potential situations and adjust habits and reflexes.

One place where VR could make a huge difference, though, is in the autism community. Individuals with autism often experience extreme anxiety when they know they have to visit new places where they’re not so familiar. Such overwhelming anxiety can express itself as an attack, sickness, and obstinance, followed by fainting or tantrums.

Take our son, for example, who lives with autism. We learned from his dentist that we would need to get his wisdom teeth removed, which is a surgical procedure that would make even someone without autism nervous for good reason. To help him mentally prepare for what the visit to the oral surgeon would entail, my wife and I visited the oral surgeon’s office and took lots of pictures of the office, the surgery room, the doctor, the nurses, and all the places we would be walking both to and from the event.

With months to prepare and more photos and videos than anyone could ask for, we were able to help our son “walk through” the whole process from start to finish and provide visual accompaniment. For these exact situations, we foresee Virtual Reality proving a really useful tool for showing him the landscape of other potential places he may have to visit, including barbershops, doctors’ offices, and more.

In time, we hope to see Virtual Reality harnessed better to help people with extreme anxiety such as those with autism better prepare for life by familiarizing themselves with their environments.

Welcome!

By Russ Ewell

On January 26, 2018

In Blog

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