Most people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders suffer
from severe forms of the disability, and find it difficult to perform
unfamiliar tasks for undefined periods of time, according to Matthew Goodwin,
an assistant professor of health informatics at Northeastern University.
Recognizing that results from studying higher-functioning individuals
with autism may not apply to individuals with more severe cases of the
disability, Goodwin came up with a novel idea: "Instead of bringing people into
the lab, why don’t we consider taking the lab to people?”
To put this idea into practice, Goodwin draws on two forms
of computer science. The first, called "ubiquitous computing,” tracks a person’s
natural behavior in his home using embedded sensory devices such as cameras or
microphones. The second approach, dubbed "wearable computing,” measures
physical activity and physiological reactivity using embedded sensors on shoes,
clothing and wristbands.
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