Jacob Esparza, CEO of Making Friends Inc., discusses the integration of video games into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to help children on the autism spectrum improve social skills through engaging and adaptive gaming mechanics. The document highlights design and learning requirements, presenting a vision for an educational gaming solution that serves diverse user needs while avoiding addictive behaviors. It calls for innovation in ABA learning models, emphasizing the importance of data collection and user engagement for effective therapy.

1. Video Games & ABA
Jacob Esparza
Making Friends Inc.
Thursday, October 3, 13

2. Hi, I’m Jacob Esparza
CEO & Co-Founder,
Making Friends Inc.
@jacobespa
@MakingFriendsSF
Thursday, October 3, 13

3. Video Games History
Education
Interactions
Content
Controls
Today
Thursday, October 3, 13

4. Can Video Games Complement Care?
Video Games
4
1
Therapy
Social Skills Groups
3
2
School
Thursday, October 3, 13

5. Video Games & ABA Share
the Same Principles
Clear Goals
Visual Support
Reward-Based
Measurable Outcomes
Thursday, October 3, 13

6. Technology Advantages
Availability
Data
Engagement
Distribution
Device Deployment
Iteration Cycles
Richer
More Objective
Faster Collection
Interests + Learning
Consistent
Safe Environment
Thursday, October 3, 13

7. Design Requirements
“We want to create a solution, not a game”
Solutions need data
Data requires interactions
Interactions require engagement
Thursday, October 3, 13

8. Learning Requirements
Real-World Scenarios
Incorporate ABA
Large Volume of Content
Use Gaming Mechanics
Fun & Engaging
Avoid Addiction & Prompt Dependency
Thursday, October 3, 13

9. How Do We Engage Kids on the Spectrum?
Diverse Range of Users
• Behavioral Differences
• Speech & Language
• Sensory Needs
Adaptive Learning
Thursday, October 3, 13

10. Early Adopter Customer Persona
Noah
Behaviors
make friends”
• Obsessed with Pixar films
• Loves mobile apps
Youtube, Angry Birds, etc.
• 8/10 can’t interpret
conversations with others
• “I don’t know how to
Demographics
• 8 years old, 3rd grader
• Level 2 autism diagnosis
• 2nd grade+ reading level
• 20 hours/week therapy
Thursday, October 3, 13
• 3 hrs/day playing apps:
Needs & Goals
• Wants friends
• Anxious with new people
• Needs to avoid being
socially left behind

11. Product Overview
Gameplay
Mode
Comprehension
Mode
Navigate conversations to
play games with friends
(Non-Player Characters)
Practice a skill or
behavior in multiple
scenarios
Thursday, October 3, 13

12. Navigation
• Role-Playing: touch
to move & interact
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13. Conversations
• Verbal Responses
• Physical Responses:
Orientation, Gestures
Emotional & Facial
Expressions
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14. Mini-Games
• Arcade Gameplay
• Highly Interactive
• Common Playground
Your turn!
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Games & Rules
• Motor Skills

15. ABA Techniques
Video Modeling (animated
characters)
Chaining
Positive Reinforcement
Providing Choices
Priming
Visual Support
Verbal Prompting
Visual Prompting
Thursday, October 3, 13

16. Skills & Behaviors
Social Initiation
Sharing
Taking Turns
Waiting Patiently
Asking Peers Questions
And More
Thursday, October 3, 13

17. How To Make Learning Adaptive
User-Interface
Copy, Layout, button(s),
colors, patterns, shapes
User Interactions
Gestures, reaction times
Animation
Speed, number of objects
moving, frequency, order
Sound
Language, tone/pitch, volume
Thursday, October 3, 13

18. How To Make Learning Adaptive
User-Interface
Copy, Layout, button(s),
colors, patterns, shapes
User Interactions
Gestures, reaction times
Animation
Speed, number of objects
moving, frequency, order
Sound
Language, tone/pitch, volume
Thursday, October 3, 13

19. Future
Bio-Feedback
EEG
Eye-Tracking
Heart Rate
Galvanic Skin Response
Game Controls
Natural Language Processing
Body Language Modeling
Thursday, October 3, 13

20. Big Opportunity
Adaptive Educational Gaming
That Teaches Social Skills
Data Insights to Help Assess
Differences and Inform Care
Innovate on ABA Learning
Models for Digital Delivery
Thursday, October 3, 13

21. Thank You!
Jacob Esparza
CEO & Co-Founder,
Making Friends Inc.
jacob@makingfriendsapp.com
@jacobespa
Thursday, October 3, 13