Social Playware: Device-mediated social interaction for therapeutic activities

Abstract

Social Playware is regarded as cyber-physical systems to support and enhance the experiences on play and social interaction among people by measuring and presenting physical contacts, spatial movement and facial expression. Several wearable or modular devices are used in this study, which enable behavior and affective measurements. It is aimed not only to integrate cyber and physical spaces by using developed wearable devices but also to show the possibility to help people develop their social ability throughout case studies. In this paper, a case-study involving children with developmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disorders is reported. We introduce a wearable device and social robotic device, which enable behavior and affective measurements based on augmented human technology. It is aimed not only to integrate cyber and physical spaces by using developed wearable devices but also to help people develop their social ability.