Affective communication aid using wearable devices based on biosignals

Abstract

We propose a novel wearable interface for sharing facial expressions between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents, therapists, and caregivers. The developed interface is capable of recognizing facial expressions based on physiological signal patterns taken from facial bioelectrical signals and displaying the results in real time. The physiological signals are measured from the forehead and both sides of the head. We verified that the proposed classification method is robust against facial movements, blinking, and the head posture. This compact interface can support the perception of facial expressions between children with ASD and others to help improve their communication.