Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
11-21-2024
Abstract
Utilizing touch interactions from smartphones for gathering data and identifying digital markers for screening and monitoring neurological disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is an emerging area of research. Smartphones provide multiple benefits for this kind of study, including unobtrusive data collection via built-in sensors, integrated haptic feedback systems, and the capability to create specialized applications. Acknowledging the significant yet understudied presence of tactile processing differences in individuals with ASD, we designed and developed Feel and Touch, a mobile game that leverages the haptic capabilities of smartphones. This game provides vibrotactile feedback in response to touch interactions and collects data on these interactions. We conducted a deployment study with 83 Mexican children who played Feel and Touch to capture their interactions with the game. Our analysis, comparing touch interactions between children with ASD and neurotypical (NT) peers, uncovered three digital markers based on phone tilt and touch patterns that distinguish the two groups. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability of a machine learning model to accurately classify these interactions between ASD and NT children. Our findings discuss the implications in terms of accessibility and ubiquity, as well as the possibilities for the development of digital markers and their application in pervasive computing for healthcare.
Recommended Citation
Ivonne Monarca, Franceli L. Cibrian, Isabel López Hurtado, and Monica Tentori. 2024. Smartphone Haptics Can Uncover Differences in Touch Interactions Between ASD and Neurotypicals. Proc. ACM Interact. Mob. Wearable Ubiquitous Technol. 8, 4, Article 164 (December 2024), 34 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3699749
Copyright
The authors
Included in
Electrical and Electronics Commons, Graphics and Human Computer Interfaces Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Other Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons
Comments
This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies, volume 8, issue 4, in 2024. https://doi.org/10.1145/3699749