Indra leads R&D+i project to train autism using virtual and augmented reality

Indra, the premier IT Company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, leads the R&D+i Savia project, a system of interactive virtual learning for people who suffer from autism or are learning challenged. The project aims to apply virtual and augmented reality technologies to the training and educational activity professionals and relatives carry out with people who suffer from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) either with or without intellectual incapacity.  

For this reason, the project includes the development of a technology platform which will offer all the necessary educational contents for this sector by means of systems and tools. The solution will enable working on different aspects which previously had to be addressed with different products; for instance: basic learning (big, small, close, far, etc), daily life skills (personal hygiene, meals, and so on); concepts such as team work, recognition of emotions or skills like imagination and games.

The new application, accessible and user-friendly in terms of technology, will offer virtual worlds and controlled and customisable environments of high usefulness for the education of autistic individuals as they are quite attracted to technology devices like computers, PDAs, etc. In addition to this, many studies on the application of virtual and augmented reality to the education of individuals with ASD have revealed positive results.

The new solution will be compatible with interactive platforms of extended use such as games consoles and will take into account the new technologies which might appear during the product’s life cycle.

SAVIA is within the R&D+i Avanza Competitividad subprogramme of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce. The consortium consists of Indra, as the coordinator of the project through its software labs network; Secuoyas, a small and medium-sized enterprise especialised in 3D animation, and finally the Autism and Learning Difficulties Group of the University of Valencia.

Experimental evaluation prototypes

Besides the research on platforms, technologies, multimode and configurable interfaces and state-of-the-art systems, the project also includes the study of the educational and pedagogical needs of professionals who work with ASD individuals, the design of adequate content addressing those needs and the development of several prototypes.

The prototypes will be evaluated in its experimental stage with children who have a typical development. Later on, the evaluation will proceed with people who suffer from ASD or other intellectual challenges. This process will give the answers regarding the usefulness of the application of technologies and will make known the results of the different investigations and evaluations conducted.

Advantages of the solution

SAVIA will offer ASD and intellectually challenged individuals a nice, controlled and understandable environment in order to boost their skills and develop those which are lagging, thus improving quality of life of this sector as much as possible. Families will have the possibility to get directly involved in the development of the children by learning and teaching in an easy and understandable way.

Those who work on a daily basis with people who suffer from ASD or any intellectual disorder, will have a work place with educational tools, highly configurable and adjustable contents and interfaces and where they will be able to share experiences with other professionals.

The general public will also benefit from the solution as its tools could be useful for   school-age children thanks to the nature of the tools, its educational and social aspects as well as the way it is presented: as an educational game, easy to understand, reliable and with contents analysed in depth.

Commitment to accessible technologies

Savia is in line with Indra's commitment to accessible technologies as part of its Corporate Responsibility strategy. Accessible technologies seek to develop innovative solutions and services to facilitate access to technology, social and labor integration to people with disabilities. Indra has already developed over 30 R&D+i projects in this area and has created five Chairs for the investigation in accessible technologies in collaboration with Adecco Foundation and different universities.

Indra

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to investment in R&D with over € 500 M during the last three years. In 2010 revenues reached € 2,557 M and the international market already accounts for a 44%. The company employs more than 35,000 professionals and has clients in more than 110 countries.