A joint music making game augmenting social skills in autistic individuals

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition marked by communication difficulties, but some individuals with ASD excel in understanding and responding to music. Joint musical activities have shown promise in improving social behavior among people with ASD.

Limitations of Existing Interventions

However, existing music-based interventions have limitations:

• They lack precise control.
• They lack flexibility.
• They lack accessibility, often requiring training or therapist presence.

Project Goals

To address these issues, the AUTISMUS project aims to create technology that allows ASD individuals to easily access engaging and interactive musical activities, even from home.

Technology Overview

This project leverages a pillar of my ERC StG – the eMusic Box (eMB) – a device developed to enable non-musicians to make music together, mutually adapting to each other’s performance.

Assessment and Impact

We will assess if individuals with ASD can use the eMB effectively and whether it enhances their social functioning. If successful, we plan to bring this technology to market, considering insights from end-users.

Stakeholder Engagement

The eMB's impact spans various stakeholders, including:

1. Individuals with ASD
2. Caregivers
3. Educational institutions
4. Healthcare professionals
5. Therapy centers
6. Research organizations
7. Autism support groups

Its versatility suits ASD individuals of different ages and abilities.

Advantages of eMB

Compared to existing technologies, the eMB offers:

• Superior accessibility
• Greater flexibility
• Enhanced interactivity

Exploitation Route

Our exploitation route involves patenting the technology and licensing it to a market leader for broad distribution to both B2B and B2C customers, fostering innovation and enhancing global products and services.