Sounds of Play: Designing Augmented Toys for Children with Autism

This paper presents a study on the design of augmented toys for children with autism. The goal of the study was to develop an interactive game that could improve social interaction and cognitive skills in children with autism, as well as create an inclusive and accessible technology-rich toy that assists in the development of social and cognitive skills for children with autism. Two design proposals were explored: the Music Wheel and the RanGo. The Music Wheel aimed to target sensory problems like tactile, visual, auditory, fine motor skills, attention, concentration, and communication skills of children, while the RanGo was designed to improve cognitive skills like turn-taking, collaborative play, and independence in higher levels of the game. The study involved visits to two reference centers for children with autism and unstructured interviews with experts and parents of children with autism. A survey was also conducted to evaluate children's interactions during daily activities. An early pilot study was carried out with the RanGo, which provided some initial insights into its potential value for children with autism. The study highlights the importance of designing toys specifically for children with autism, considering their unique needs and challenges. Augmented toys like the Music Wheel and the RanGo can provide children with autism with an engaging and stimulating tool for learning and social interaction, improving their quality of life. Although further research is needed to verify the efficacy of the two design proposals, the present study provides initial evidence for the potential of augmented toys for children with autism.