INDIVIDUALS with autism spectrum disorders may soon be able to rehearse unfamiliar social interactions on their smartphones, reducing their social anxiety.
The planned app is one of many that will be developed during a “” weekend event that Hewlett Packard will host early next month at its offices in Cupertino, California.
The app will offer a library of storyboards about everyday life, explaining the steps involved in activities like getting a haircut or going to the dentist.
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“The app will offer a library of storyboards about the activities of everyday life, like getting a haircut”
The app “speaks to autism’s core deficit”, says Andy Shih of , a New York-based charity which is recruiting volunteer software developers for the event. “It is solidly grounded in science,” he says.
Another proposed app will help autistic individuals record their behaviour and diet on a daily basis for their families and therapists.