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www.first-asd.euwww.openbooktool.net
• A tool for simplifying text• For people with autism who have difficulty with
understanding regular text• Converts written information into a simpler
formateg. English > simplified Englisheg. Spanish > simplified Spanish• Using computerised language technology, it aims
to improve independence and social inclusion of people with autism
• Developed by the FIRST Project - 9 organisations under a European Commission FP7 Programme funded 3-year cooperative research project
• Available in English, Spanish & Bulgarian
Introducing Open Book
• Intellectual abilities vary between individuals, from superior intelligence in some areas to profound intellectual disability
• Language skills also vary between individuals (some people who have autism do not speak at all)
• Yet, all people with autism experience some difficulties in:
Comprehending speech and writing Interpreting figurative/non-literal language Understanding complex instructions Deriving the meaning or gist of written documents
More information about autism: www.autismeurope.org
Autism & reading comprehension
difficulties
How the tool works
How the program works
User interface: Original text
User interface: Adapted text
User interface: Magnification tool
User interface: Explain word
feature
User interface: Explain with picture
feature
User interface: Sentence
simplification
User interface: Sentence
simplification
User preferences
User interface: Ask carer feature
Carer interface: Add a note to respond to
question
Carer interface: Identifying obstacles to reading comprehension
Carer interface: Replace a word with a
simpler one
Carer interface: Add an explanation for a
word
Carer interface: Add a link to more
information
Research & development
process
Testing & evaluation
Designing system architecture & user interface
Identifying user requirements
Processing structural complexity of languages
Processing ambiguity in meaning of words
Generating personalised documents
Involvement of people with autism•Involvement in all stages of software development•Direct & indirect involvement (people with autism, as well as their teachers, parents, carers, and professionals)•Planning – Information & advice from autism organisations •Testing – 300 people with autism directly involved in testing the software•Evaluation – 18 intermediaries (carers, social workers, psychologists & doctors) involved in evaluating the usefulness of the software for people with autism•Perceptions of inclusion will be evaluated via qualitative interviews and focus groups with a sample of the people with autism who participated in testing the software
Research & development process
Identifying user requirements - General•Research during early phase of software development to define the needs of people with autism (in relation to accessing text documents) more clearly than any previous studies•Focus group discussions with sample group of people with autism
Research & development
process
Testing & evaluation•Testing with end users: People with autism-300 participants (both adults & children) with ‘high-functioning’ autism -Adults - 100 in UK, Children (aged 12 & above) - 100 in Spain, 100 in Bulgaria-Must have IQ of 70 or above-Tests to confirm participants’ diagnosis of high functioning autism -Reading comprehension tests with documents on various topics (under exam conditions)-Participants read documents in original and simplified formats -Participants answer multiple choice tests about their understanding of the documents-Testing results will inform future development / versions of the software
Research & development
process
Testing & evaluation•Surveys for end users: Intermediaries-18 participants (3 clinical centres x 6 participants)-Including carers, social workers & psychologists-Provided with training on how to use the software-Participants are asked to use the software to prepare 6 documents for people with autism-Afterwards, participants complete a survey to assess the useability of the software for people with autism-Survey results inform development of final software product
Research & development
process
User & carer feedback''I think it's increased my vocabulary, I think it's made me use more complex words''
– User, United Kingdom
''Not only is she reading significantly more, she's not coming to me, asking ‘what does that mean?'”.
– Carer, United Kingdom
''I can see that he starts to communicate with other children. He goes to them and starts talking, and he never did that before.''
– Parent, Bulgaria
Research & development
process
• University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
• Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
• Universidad de Alicante, Spain• Autism-Europe a.i.s.b.l., Europe• Universidad de Jaen, Spain• Parallel World Sdruzhenie, Bulgaria• Deletrea SL, Spain• iWeb Technologies Ltd, United Kingdom• Kodar OOD, Bulgaria
Project partners
The research leading to this software product has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework
Programme (FP7, 2007-2013), under grant agreement n° 287607.
Acknowledgements
Open Book Launch Tomorrow morning, 11.40am (in the break) at the Autism-Europe stand(serving Belgian chocolates to guests!)
More information:Open Book: www.openbooktool.net FIRST Project website: www.first-asd.euJoin our mailing list: [email protected] us: [email protected]
Launch & updates