This research intentions to verify the potency of a special mobile messaging software entitled MAAN, which means that together in the Arabic, to possess adults having ASD, having fun with pre-article studies investigation. The aim of MAAN should be to render an easily accessible, safe, and easy-to-explore chatting app having grownups having ASD and hence assistance their introduction into the community. Within analysis, i hypothesized next: (1) New entry to attributes of mobile software (text-to-address turkish dating apps [TTS], speech-to-text message [STT], and you will telecommunications symbols [CS]), being applied to MAAN, can boost brand new social and you may correspondence experiences out-of adults having ASD; and you will (2) The employment of new app can lessen personal loneliness during the adults which have ASD.
Studies Structure
A combined methods strategy are implemented contained in this investigation. Seven grownups with ASD was indeed questioned to use MAAN through its caregivers to possess sixteen days. Before the framework and development of MAAN, semistructured interviews was basically used that have masters to go over the fresh new preliminary advised application framework. The fresh software construction was then altered with regards to the obtained viewpoints. Then, people which have ASD in addition to their moms and dads or caregivers was basically asked so you can play with MAAN having a time period of 16 days. It years is implemented regarding the study from the Laugeson ainsi que al , which advised when choosing social and you will correspondence experience interventions, upgrade is just clear during the sixteen days. The study started by the contacting anyone ready to participate. Because of COVID-19, the initial conferences into the people have been held on line. All the members obtained a contact to possess outlining the study guidance, such as date and time, and you will a good weblink having get together advised agree to possess a virtual meeting on participants, their friends, and their parents. Just after researching the new participants’ concur, they certainly were requested so you’re able to fill an on-line prestudy survey under control to collect demographical information. Mom and dad otherwise caregivers of your professionals have been as well as asked so you can done a short form of the latest Social and Emotional Loneliness Measure to possess Adults (SELSA-S) survey . The aim of this questionnaire would be to determine the brand new societal and you will family loneliness of your professionals. In the an online appointment, the principal specialist informed me the new application has in more detail and you can replied next questions relating to the analysis. The players was in fact including provided by a beneficial hotline to help you declaration any situation they may deal with with this analysis. To ensure the continuity of data range, the participants had been asked in order for new software is actually always powering from the records.
At the end of the research, all members having ASD as well as their caregivers otherwise mothers accomplished the latest Mobile App Get Measure: member version (uMARS) questionnaire. Brand new uMARS is a simple and you will reputable product that is certainly used by stop-profiles to evaluate the quality of cellular wellness applications. It includes good 20-goods size including cuatro purpose high quality subscales (wedding, possibilities, esthetics, and you will pointers quality) and 1 subjective high quality subscale. The goal of which questionnaire is to measure the app’s top quality with regards to features. The participants’ moms and dads otherwise caregivers and additionally complete new SELSA-S questionnaire again to choose the participants’ public and you will family loneliness pricing after the data. Lastly, an excellent semistructured interviews with parents otherwise caregivers try held to collect facts about this new framework regarding app usage. The fresh new interview incorporated questions regarding the overall application experience in terms and conditions out-of functionality, capabilities, and pressures came across while using the app, together with tricks for further enhancement.
MAAN Software Structure and you can Invention
The newest application consisted of another 3 main provides: TTS, STT, and you may CS. Among the many really-known have that even be considered as a kind of assistive technologies are the fresh new TTS feature, enabling profiles to hear created text message with the a computer, tablet, or track anybody troubled during the training and decoding terminology . Likewise, STT are an assistive technology ability utilized by people who battle that have writing. This style of assistive technology lets address getting converted into text with the measuring device. Each other features are particularly are not utilized to support introduction training configurations . The latest application also incorporated the latest CS feature, which is a significant part of AAC-supported tech, and its particular number one purpose is always to assist those with ASD when you look at the constructing sentences. We are really not alert to any chatting app one to aids new utilization of the CS element. TAWASOL signs was in fact utilized for this new CS element. These were designed in 2013 because of the Mada Cardiovascular system, a keen assistive technology heart during the Qatar. These icons show the modern Standard Arabic vocabulary and are also customized to be culturally, socially, religiously, and you can linguistically appropriate. TAWASOL is based on the brand new AAC Symbols Collection that is brought so you’re able to nonverbal otherwise minimally spoken those who wanted alternative interaction choices .