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NTT DATA
aida: Artificial Intelligence Design for Autism

A non-profit research to create a prototype kit for people on the spectrum.

Team
NTT DATA
Tangity
Services
Engineering
UX and Service Design
Visual Design
Content Design
AI Research
Studios
Milan

Challenge

Despite being a widespread condition, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) still remains unclear for the majority of the population. This is why we started this design project, focusing on desk and field research to better understand the people's condition. To do so, we involved various design disciplines, Aritificial Intelligence specialists, and worked closely with people that live with ASD.

A child and their therapist

Insight

Although ASD is not a learning disability, it can strongly influence a person's education in two ways. On the one side, autistic children develop at a different speed while cultivating skills in a different way than children without the condition.

Children with ASD may also have difficulties staying focused, communicating, and understanding others' perspectives.

3 screens of the project

Approach

The research project allowed us to test a new way to access valuable data through a human-centered design approach. Our team defined the relevant data based on user research in three steps:

• desk & field research
• feature extraction
• dataset design

This enabled our team to analyze the human biases and tackle them to avoid transferring them into the machine.

This design methodology we developed is especially valuable in cases where no datasets are available, like in the case of ASD, where there is no well-structured dataset related to the project's objectives.

Aida pack
Aida mobile app

Solution

aida changes the perspective towards autism, not by forcing the child to adapt to the context. Instead, aida attempts to adjust the context to the child’s needs, facilitating communication as well as the learning process.

We designed a kit that provides parents and educators with information about the status of the child, suggesting ways to communicate the most effective educational path.

We integrated this innovative kit with a scalable app as an institutional tool to create a more inclusive environment in public schools.

Aida mobile app on boarding
“Every child or adult with autism has unique characteristics. When a teacher is replaced, it's difficult for them to manage.”
— Paola Golzi, Associazione Nazionale Genitori Soggetti Autistici

IMPACT ON HUMAN LIFE

1:59

children in the world is diagnosed with autism

INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY

2

expertises to create an AI dataset from user research

COLLABORATION

2 units

for an interdisciplinary project

AWARDS

UNESCO

selected for Mobile Learning Week 2020