This document discusses research into using virtual worlds like Second Life to help develop social communication skills for those diagnosed with autism and Asperger's. It notes how virtual worlds can provide accessible anonymous social interaction and help level social abilities. Projects are exploring using role plays and adapted tests in Second Life to evaluate communication issues and potential lessons. While initial studies found no major differences, improvements are needed like dedicated tests and controls. Overall virtual worlds may inform teaching and provide a safe therapeutic environment for social skills practice.

1. Social Communication Skills of
People Diagnosed with Autism
and Asperger's in 3D Multi-User
Virtual Worlds
Simon Bignell
Lecturer in Psychology, University of Derby
s.bignell@derby.ac.uk

2. Introduction
• I am Simon Bignell my Avatar in Second
Life is Milton Broome.
• I am a lecturer in Psychology at University
of Derby in the UK.
• I teach a module at Derby University
called “Autism, Asperger’s and ADHD”.
• I have been using Second Life for
teaching and educational research and
more recently looking at Autism and
Asperger’s in Second Life.

3. Acknowledgements

7. The Unique Properties of Second Life
• Allows accessible anonymous social interaction.
• Has the potential to be ‘Safe and Secure’, free
from the threat of physical intimidation.
• Provides high levels of social interactivity but
without complex linguistic and social-behavioural
processing necessary for face-to-face
conversations.
• Visually very believable and immersive.
• Can act to levels the playing field for people with
disabilities.

8. Project
• Second Life allows the exchange of
conversation to be slowed down and
managed whilst maintaining the social
interactivity of real life communication.
• For people with mental and/or physical
disabilities reducing the complex social
and language processing necessary for
meaningful relationships is crucial.

9. Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
A continuum that…
“…ranges from the most profoundly physically
and mentally retarded person ... to the most
able, highly intelligent person with social
impairment in its subtlest form as his only
disability. It overlaps with learning disabilities
and shades into eccentric normality.”
Lorna wing

10. What Is Autism?
Impairment in social interaction.
Impairment in verbal Restricted, repetitive and
and non verbal stereotyped patterns of
communication. behaviour.

11. What Is Asperger’s Disorder?
Impairment in social interaction.
Impairment in verbal
and non verbal
communication.
Restricted, repetitive and
Peculiarities in verbal stereotyped patterns of
and non verbal behaviour.
communication.
• The triad of impairment summarises the difficulties of
the Autistic person but the actual manifestation of
these can vary. Asperger’s may be a subtler form of
ASD.

12. Current projects…
• Social Communication Skills of people
with Asperger’s and high-functioning
Autism in virtual worlds
– People with Autism can have considerable
communication difficulties in social situations
and higher level language skills, such as
inferring intentions or mental states from
others, are often impaired.
– This pilot project investigate if Second Life
can be of use to them in (evaluating)
developing social and communicative skills.

13. Current projects
• People with Autism often have communication
problems.
– They often choose to communicate in ways that allow
them to slow down the process, for example email,
text, internet messaging and social networking web
sites.
• Typed vs. Spoken Communication
– Face to face communication bandwidth is of the order
of 150 to 200 words per minute.
– Typing for most is 15 to 20 wpm, therefore e-
communication is approx 10 times slower than face to
face or voice.

14. Current projects
• This link between social communication
impairment and virtual worlds may explain why
many people with Autism are reported to find 3D
virtual worlds rewarding.
• Can we detect social language problems in high
functioning Autistics by using a virtual world
methodology? What lessons can we learn?
• If we can conduct reliable and valid research in
virtual worlds with clinical populations the
implications for provision of cost-effective
‘virtual’ interventions for people with Autism are
considerable.

15. Vid 1
Social Role Plays in Second Life
• Social Introductions; Social Rules (faux pas); Problem Solving;
Misunderstanding (Ambiguous Words).
• E.G.: Misunderstanding Task:
Avatars role play a social conversation about the gym.
Person A is the participant (Autistic), Person B is the
experimenter, Person C is a research assistant.
1. A ← B Likes the staff at the gym but complains about
her shoes rubbing so can’t continue.
2. A ← C Hates the staff at the gym.
3. A is involved in a conversation and sees B ↔ C:
(B)“My trainers are a real problem for me!”, (C)“Yes,
me too!”, (B)“Really?”, (C)“Yes, I don’t like the way
they talk to me.”, (B)“Huh?, That’s impossible!” etc….

16. Tests
Adapted version of Test of Language Competence
(Expanded Edition), “Mum looked really low today.”

17. Tests
The Multiple Meanings in Context Subtest. From Understanding Ambiguity (Rinaldi,
1996). “Mrs Smith was late for school. She said, ‘I’m sorry I’m late, the road was
jammed solid this morning.”
vids

18. Results/Lessons
• No major differences between ‘Autistic’ group
and ‘Non-Autistic’ group.
– It may be the case that there were differences but we
didn’t detect them (Type II Error).
– Our groups were not selected reliably.
– Second Life was too messy.
– Not enough people are using voice to recruit.
– Generalisations from population are dubious.
– Ceiling effects (too easy) on adapted tests.
– Experimental control is difficult to ensure.
– Can’t get reliable reaction times.
– Dedicated tests are needed and extensive piloting is
required.

19. Research in Second Life Informs
Teaching in Real Life
• Teaching in Second Life at Higher
Education level…
– Challenging
– Requires planning and
continual development
– Needs a flexible attitude
towards learning
– Possibly requires relinquishing
control to the learner
– Enthusiasm and belief in the
platform as a tool not a game
– Support from scripters and
builders
– A reflective and action-oriented
approach to teaching methods
– Lots and lots and lots of time to
ensure it has value for students
– If Second Life doesn’t improve
your students’ learning
experience don’t use it!

20. The potential of Second Life for
people with Autistic Spectrum
Disorder
• Second Life provides an opportunity for:
– Sense of community
– Social skills rehearsal
– Safety to make mistakes
– A space to make friends and personally develop
– A place to share information
– A place to simulate social interactions of real life
– Research and interaction.
– Potentially a therapeutic environment.

21. Future projects
• Autism Simulator
– We are developing, with the Autistic
community, a project that will
demonstrate/simulate some of the sensory
sensitivities of people with Autism.
– Light
– Noise
– Touch
– Attention focus
– Associated comorbidity

22. PREVIEW-Psych Project
• Upskilling Day for Psychology subject group (March 2008)
• Mentoring Scheme for six institutions (From January 2008)
Webpage: http://PREVIEW-Psych.org
See also Milton Broome’s Virtual Psychology Blog for overview
www.MiltonBroome.com / s.bignell@derby.ac.uk

23. Contact
Simon Bignell (Second Life Avatar: Milton Broome)
Lecturer in Psychology at University of Derby
s.bignell@derby.ac.uk
Blog: http://miltonbroome.com
Twitter: MiltonBroome
See also Eduserv’s ‘snapshot’ of UK HE and FE developments in SL
www.virtualworldwatch.net for overview