Investigação para apoio ao design de ambientes para criação de jogos sérios por terapeutas para auxílio ao tratamento de crianças com transtorno do espectro autista

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized mainly by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, accompanied by repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The term spectrum refers to the wide range of symptoms that vary according to the severity of autism, the individual's level of development, and age. In recent years, several studies have investigated different technologies and solutions to support ASD interventions and treatments. Among these initiatives, many studies have explored the use of serious games for individuals with ASD. A game is considered a serious game if its purpose extends beyond entertainment to include skill development. Research has shown that serious games can aid in the treatment of ASD. As individuals with ASD are highly unique, researchers emphasize the importance of making serious games customizable to adapt to each individual's specific needs, thus effectively supporting ASD treatment. However, many serious games do not offer customization features. One way to address this need is to empower domain experts (e.g., occupational therapists) to create serious games using End-User Development techniques, allowing them to better meet their patients' needs. The main goal of this research is to propose an architectural model, along with the dimensions of a modeling language, that defines the essential components of an environment where occupational therapists can create serious games to support the treatment of children with ASD, without requiring prior programming knowledge. To achieve this goal, we first conducted a systematic literature review, deepening our understanding of the aspects involved in serious games aimed at children with ASD. We then identified the essential requirements for designing this environment from the perspectives of occupational therapists and the literature. Based on these requirements, we proposed an architectural model for creating customizable serious games. Finally, we implemented and evaluated a prototype that embodies an instance of this model, providing insights related to the solution, the model, and the prototype. Our results indicate that participants recognize the value of the proposed solution, particularly regarding the possibilities for creating customized games to support ASD treatment in various ways, potentially increasing children's engagement and interest during sessions. The model has demonstrated viability, as we successfully developed a functional instance that users effectively utilized. Suggestions for improvements will contribute significantly to the evolution of the prototype.