Study of human behaviour as a result of the interaction between body, nervous system and environment through software and hardware development of embedded systems and AI algorithms.
Main research project: ASSO (Abstract conceptS and Social InteractiOn).
ASSO aims to disclose the link between social interaction and ACs processing and use in a broad spectrum of
populations:
-children with typical development (TD);
-children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD);
-parents of ASD;
-adults with distinct levels of social competence (e.g. politicians, social media influencers).
Methods: Plusme is an experimental interactive soft toy with the shape of a panda, designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage social interaction in children through sensory-motor play activities (project GOAL-Robots, www.goal-robots.eu ). Thanks to Arduino-based embedded electronics, it can emit attractive outputs (e.g. colored lights, amusing sounds, mild vibrations) when touched on the 4 sensorized pows. Plusme can distinguish between two users' touch and react accordingly. This characteristic allows set-up activities based on turn-taking: this general social competence is pivotal for all communication activities featuring a reciprocal back-and-forth exchange. Evidence shows how interactive technologies are particularly efficient inASD treatment (73-75). Plusme was tested in two pilot experiments with TD and ASD children (age 24-48 months) (76-77) and is currently used in two European projects concerning ASD: Plus Me ( www.plusme-h2020.eu ) and IM-TWIN ( www.im-twin.eu ).
