Welcome back to Reading the Research, where I trawl
the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects,
then discuss it in brief with bits from my own life, research, and
observations.
Today's article features a new system developed jointly by Dartmouth College and the University of Cambridge. It uses infrared light to gather information on face-to-face interactions, measuring distances between speakers and body angles in order to advance our understanding of what's ideal in situations like job interviews, team projects, and doctor-patient conversations.
The name of the system is Protractor, and its data-gathering instrument is... an access badge-sized object that can be worn on a lanyard or with a clip. This is a rather remarkable advance, as previous systems for studying body language tend to involve video cameras, audio recording devices, and questionnaires before and afterwards. With this new system, participants using the technology are likely to be less uncomfortable and their behavior more natural and genuine than if they had cameras pointed at them, microphones shoved in their faces, and were subjected to paper tests.
While the researchers themselves are more focused on the potential benefits for international workplaces and improving fancy interview training programs, I see possibilities for teaching autistic people fine-tuned social blending skills. It's a very basic system, but it has immediate implications for teaching personal space and correct posture. Both concepts can be difficult for autistic people, especially if the autistic person suffers from depression of any stripe. I personally have had poor posture for most of my life. I think it's improved somewhat, but I'm still more comfortable hunching than I am sitting straight.
The Protractor system could be used to give immediate, continuing feedback on a social situation... which would make interview training a lot easier to do, especially if paired with smart glasses or some type of heads up display. You could even make a video game out of it. The interviewee gains points the better their posture is, for example. The longer they can hold that posture while answering standard interview questions, the better their score. This could be paired with more typical interview training (such as how to handle those questions, what to wear to the interview, what things to bring to the interview, etc).
It doesn't just have to be interview training, either. Any situation that follows rules like an interview could have a scenario or whole video game built for it. Situations like "going through airport security" or "interacting with the police" would also qualify. Personally, I could use some practice with the latter...
The possibilities are remarkable, regardless. As we come closer to understanding what "the ideal" is in nonverbal communication, it will become easier to teach autistic people how to mimic that ideal. Paired with teaching neurotypical people how to accept people that are different from them, the world could become a much better place for everyone.
Today's article features a new system developed jointly by Dartmouth College and the University of Cambridge. It uses infrared light to gather information on face-to-face interactions, measuring distances between speakers and body angles in order to advance our understanding of what's ideal in situations like job interviews, team projects, and doctor-patient conversations.
The name of the system is Protractor, and its data-gathering instrument is... an access badge-sized object that can be worn on a lanyard or with a clip. This is a rather remarkable advance, as previous systems for studying body language tend to involve video cameras, audio recording devices, and questionnaires before and afterwards. With this new system, participants using the technology are likely to be less uncomfortable and their behavior more natural and genuine than if they had cameras pointed at them, microphones shoved in their faces, and were subjected to paper tests.
While the researchers themselves are more focused on the potential benefits for international workplaces and improving fancy interview training programs, I see possibilities for teaching autistic people fine-tuned social blending skills. It's a very basic system, but it has immediate implications for teaching personal space and correct posture. Both concepts can be difficult for autistic people, especially if the autistic person suffers from depression of any stripe. I personally have had poor posture for most of my life. I think it's improved somewhat, but I'm still more comfortable hunching than I am sitting straight.
The Protractor system could be used to give immediate, continuing feedback on a social situation... which would make interview training a lot easier to do, especially if paired with smart glasses or some type of heads up display. You could even make a video game out of it. The interviewee gains points the better their posture is, for example. The longer they can hold that posture while answering standard interview questions, the better their score. This could be paired with more typical interview training (such as how to handle those questions, what to wear to the interview, what things to bring to the interview, etc).
It doesn't just have to be interview training, either. Any situation that follows rules like an interview could have a scenario or whole video game built for it. Situations like "going through airport security" or "interacting with the police" would also qualify. Personally, I could use some practice with the latter...
The possibilities are remarkable, regardless. As we come closer to understanding what "the ideal" is in nonverbal communication, it will become easier to teach autistic people how to mimic that ideal. Paired with teaching neurotypical people how to accept people that are different from them, the world could become a much better place for everyone.
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