Device and method for instilling intrinsic motivation regarding eye contact in children affected by eye contact disorders
AssigneeMatthew Casey
InventorMatthew Casey
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Abstract
This describes a treatment method for autism/ASD intended to encourage greater eye contact by affected children. The treatment method incorporates an artificial demonstration of the phenomenon of eye contact, and that method is described herein along with the principles of action of the treatment and the necessary procedure to perform it. Also described are two embodiments of the physical portion of the invention that can be used for the demonstration: first, an item in the form of a cuboid with animatronic eyes affixed to one side that most purely reflects the principles behind the treatment, and second, another in the form of a stuffed toy that is perhaps more practical.
Claims3
The use of the physical embodiments described herein, as well as similar embodiments, for, through Demonstration-Based Concept Suggestion (DBCS) as described herein, the treatment of autism, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurodevelopment disorders in which eye contact of concern. The use of an otherwise inanimate object with, its sole or most prominent defining feature being that of having animatronic eyes that make eye contact (especially when exhibiting a fluidity of motion rivaling that seen in the natural world)—other prominent characteristics having been stripped away (or retaining other characteristics)—for the purposes of highlighting, “advertising,” creating awareness of, creating interest in, creating intrinsic motivation regarding, increasing the general level of ideation regarding, effecting the psychological suggestion of the general phenomenon of eye contact to (a) children that are preverbal, due to autism, ASD, any other disorder, or simply due to their young age, and are thus not likely to understand or respond to other communicative methods of highlighting the concept of eye contact, as well as to (b) all other children/people affected with autism, ASD, or similar medical disorders where purposeful gaze aversion is of concern, and (c) all other people.
The gaze-control mechanism described herein based on the relative assertiveness of gazes. Its use in the treatment of autism, autism spectrum disorders, and other disorders in which eye contact is of concern. Its use in any artificial object including anthropomorphic or animorphic robots. Its use in anything capable of making eye contact. The use, in general, of a gaze control mechanism based on the relative assertiveness of gazes, though especially for the purposes of treating of autism, ASD, or other neurodevelopment disorders where eye contact is of concern. The use of relative assertiveness scoring as a means to rank gaze directions for the purposes of selecting gaze direction for any artificial objects.
The solution presented herein, using the configuration of components specified, to the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) problem as described herein in anything, but most of all, in a stuffed toy, and in particular a stuffed toy intended to treat children affected by autism or ASD.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.