The AS interactive project: single‐user and collaborative virtual environments for people with high‐functioning autistic spectrum disorders

Abstract

Abstract The AS Interactive Project aimed to assess the potential of single‐user and collaborative virtual environments to support learning and enhancing of social skills in people with autistic disorders on the high‐functioning end of the autistic spectrum. The project had two distinct phases of research: Phase I focused mainly on development and design using user‐centred principles. Phase II was concerned with implementation of design feedback, further improvements and evaluation studies of the virtual environments developed. This paper describes the research process, summarizes results of the project and briefly outlines plans for future research. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.