Gain Comfort in Social Settings

Building relationships with friends, coworkers, and significant others is an essential need for a healthy, fulfilling life. For many with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), engaging in social interactions with strangers is particularly difficult due to the unique ways they perceive the world. SIMmersion has developed two prototype training systems to help people build social skills and increase comfort in general settings.

Social Skills Training Dr. Katharina Boser, President of Individual Differences in Learning and Chair of the ITA Committee for Autism Speaks, demonstrates SIMmersion’s prototype social skills training systems.

Hope for a Better Future

In a pilot study, teenagers on the spectrum talked with Andy Newman and Sam Martin. One tester stated that she was better able to make and maintain eye contact with the characters. Many suggested they felt like they were talking a real people. In general, the testers agreed that SIMmersion’s systems were "helpful" and "enjoyable." Read More.

SIMmersion is actively seeking funding to build training simulations to help people with ASD learn social skills through experiencing conversations in different settings, whether in a classroom, a job, or a party.

Characters

Sam Martin™

Learners meet Sam Martin™ at a neighborhood party and can discuss common interests in food, computers, music, and television, as well as school and work. They also practice identifying and responding to complex social cues such as tone of voice, body language, and idioms. Click here to register to try Sam Martin.

Andy Newman

Children try to make friends with Andy Newman, the new kid in town. They learn to gauge Andy’s interest in different topics and to ask Andy questions to give him a turn to speak. While talking to Andy, they will practice identifying and responding to sarcasm, idioms, and body language.

Testimonial

Cheryl Trepagnier Cheryl Trepagnier, Associate Research Professor at Catholic University of America, discusses the potential impact SIMmersion technology could have on improving individuals' social and developmental challenges.