A on MarsSOCIAL COGNITION DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Project by Paolo Decaro

A on Mars“...much of the time, I feel like

an anthropologist in Mars”

Temple Grandin

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars is a systemdesigned to develop social cognition

skills of users affected byautistic spectrum disorders.

What?

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

AutismThe term autism refers to development

disorders spectrum, usually called Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Autism

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Autism

Social interaction

•Empathy•Social cognition

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Autism

Social interaction Behavior

•Empathy•Social cognition

•Stereotypes•Global focus

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Autism

Communication

•Gaps in the language•Verbal stereotypes

Social interaction Behavior

•Empathy•Social cognition

•Stereotypes•Global focus

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Autism

Behavior CommunicationSocial interaction

•Empathy•Social cognition

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

SAS therapyThe SAS therapy (Sviluppo Abilità Sociali,

social skills development) is made of three levels, that gradually

increases child’s cognitive skills.

?

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

SAS therapy

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

SAS therapy

?

Puppets Situations

+ +Expressions

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

SAS therapy

Level 1Imitation

•Recognize facial expressions•Activate mirror neurons

?

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Level 2Empathy

•Cause-effect relation•People interaction

?

2 A 2 B

?

?

SAS therapy

Level 1Imitation

•Recognize facial expressions•Activate mirror neurons

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Level 3Mentalism•Anticipate reactions•Adjust behaviors

?

?

Level 2Empathy

•Cause-effect relation•People interaction

Level 1Imitation

•Recognize facial expressions•Activate mirror neurons

SAS therapy

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

It uses a facial expression recognition system,

offering help to understand people’s emotions.

How can A on Mars help?

Happy Surprised Sad Fearful Disgusted Angry

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

THPInterviews

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

ParentsInterviews

A on Mars

THPInterviews

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

THPReview

A on Mars

ParentsInterviews

THPInterviews

Paolo Decaro

User test1

User test2

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Paziente

Genitore

Estranei

Estranei

Genitore

Terapista

Terapista

Relations between patients, therapists and caregivers

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

Interests•Technology•Play•Personal Interests

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

Needs•Motivation•Support•Dialog•Exercise•Discretion

Interests•Technology•Play•Personal Interests

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

What do they need?

Objectives•Engage•Usability•Create relations•Versatility

Needs•Motivation•Support•Dialog•Exercise•Discretion

Interests•Technology•Play•Personal Interests

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

The systemA on Mars’ aims to offer a complete service, able to create contacts between parents and therapists, and help them

during the SAS therapy.

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

The system

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

The system

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

The systemA-face

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

The systemA-doll

A-face

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

The system

A-cam

A-doll

A-face

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

A on M

The systemA-doll

A-cam

A-face

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on M

The system

Principal connectionsUsers

Stakeholders

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

DevicesEach device has a different and defined function,

they all are also connected to each, in this way they create a unified and complete system.

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

32 mm 13 mm

56 m

m

A-cam

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

32 mm 13 mm

56 m

m

CPU

wi-fi

A-cam

Camera

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

A-face

42 mm 10 mm

42 m

m

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

A-face

42 mm 10 mm

42 m

m

e-ink

wi-fi

CPU

Wrist-band

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A-face

e-ink

wi-fi

CPU

A on Mars

Wrist-band

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A-doll

100 mm

150

mm

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

A-doll

100 mm

150

mm

CPU

A-cam casing

Solenoids

A-face casing

Shell

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A-doll + A-face

Happy Sad

Surpised hangry

Fearful Disgusted

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

The experienceThere are four possible use scenarios, mobility,

therapeutic center therapy, home therapy, parents’ training.

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Mobility

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Therapeutic center therapy

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Home therapy

A on M

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Parents’ training

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

ResultsThe daily use of

A on Mars will improve patient’sability in recognizing people facial expressions.

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Results

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Results

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Results

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Patients

•Social skills•Empathy•Emotions

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Results

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

PatientsTherapists

•Social skills•Empathy•Emotions

•Thp tracking•Engage•Communication

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

Results

A on Mars

Paolo Decaro

PatientsTherapists Parents

•Social skills•Empathy•Emotions

•Engagement in Thp•Family bonds•Continuous help

•Thp tracking•Engage•Communication

A on Mars“The world needs all kinds

of mind...”

Temple Grandin

Thanks !