CaptureMyEmotion: A mobile app to improve emotion learning for autistic children using sensors

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect one in eighty-eight children and many mobile apps are available from Google Play or Apple store to help these children and their carer. Our research into apps for autistic children identified that none of the apps use the full potential offered by mobile technology and sensors to overcome one of autistic children's main difficulty: the identification and expression of emotions. This paper describes a mobile app called CaptureMyEmotion that enables autistic children to take photos, videos or sounds, and at the same time senses their arousal level using a wireless sensor. It also allows the child to comment on their emotion at the time of capture. The app has the potential to help autistic children improve their emotions learning based on their own pictures, videos or sounds. It gives the carer a means to discuss the identification and expression of emotions.