Applied virtual environments to support learning of social interactionskills in users with Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is an autistic spectrumdisorder characterised by normal to high IQ but with marked impairment insocial skills. Successful social skills training appears to be best achievedeither in situ or in role-play situations where users can explore differentoutcomes resulting from their social behaviour. Single user virtual environments(SVEs) provide an opportunity for users with AS to learn social interactionskills in a safe environment which they can visit as many times as they like.Theuse of game-like tasks can provide an incentive and can also be used to guidethe user through progressive learning stages. Collaborative virtual environments(CVEs) allow several users to interact simultaneously within the virtual environment,each taking different perspectives or role-play characters. Within the ASinteractive project a series of SVEs and CVEs have been developed in collaborationwith users and professional groups with an overall aim of supporting socialskills learning. Initial evaluation studies have been carried out which havebeen used to both inform and refine the design of these virtual environments(VEs) as well as giving an insight into the understanding and interpretationof these technologies by users with AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]