STTR Phase I: Creating a virtual reality clinic to serve individuals with autism

STTR 第一阶段：创建虚拟现实诊所为自闭症患者提供服务

• 批准号: 2133911
• 负责人: Michael Powell
• 金额: $ 25.6万
• 依托单位: VRIENDS CORP
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-08-01 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2133911&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Creating; virtual; reality

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Approximately 3.5 million American children and adults have a diagnosis of autism. ASD is considered a lifelong pervasive disorder and, without proper treatment, individuals with ASD may have challenges functioning in society. The cost to treat an individual with autism is approximately $50,000 per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in all 50 states, both public and private insurance companies are mandated to pay for applied behavior analysis therapy delivered by board-certified analysts. However, since the typical model for delivering therapy is either home-based or clinic-based, many specific populations of U.S. citizens cannot access therapy. Patients who live in remote areas, do not have access to transportation, or need treatment outside of normal work hours are unable to access treatment. Parents of children diagnosed with ASD have additional challenges of facing long wait times and lack of input for the behavior analyst’s treatment plan. While tele-health treatment has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, speaking by phone or by screen doesn't provide the same social-skills therapy as in-person interactions. To solve these challenges, this project will create a Virtual Reality (VR) Autism Clinic: an immersive virtual reality environment where certified therapists would provide real-time treatment rooted in the research of applied behavior analysis. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop software that incorporates tenets of applied behavior analysis as a simulation tool for individuals with ASD to improve their social skills. The project will develop an interactive and immersive software system specifically designed to meet the research-based requirements of applied behaver analysis. This system will include mechanisms for practitioners to provide live feedback and will incorporate methods that leverage the motivation of individuals diagnosed with autism. The inability to access therapy because of location, lack of transportation, or scheduling issues may be significantly reduced by the envisioned end product. The anticipated technical result of the proposed project is a remote virtual reality platform that simulates and achieves in-person social-skills therapy results. The envisioned virtual autism clinic would enable ASD-affected individuals to learn, connect, and engage with others in a transformative, scalable, secure, and technically-advanced solution.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该小企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是改善自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 患者的治疗结果和生活质量，大约有 350 万美国儿童和成人被诊断患有自闭症。自闭症谱系障碍被认为是一种终生普遍的疾病，如果没有适当的治疗，患有自闭症谱系障碍的人可能会在社会生活中遇到困难，据该中心称，治疗自闭症患者的费用约为每年 50,000 美元。疾病控制和预防，以及在所有 50 个州，公共和私人保险公司都必须支付由委员会认证的分析师提供的应用行为分析治疗费用，但是，由于提供治疗的典型模式要么是家庭治疗，要么是诊所治疗。基于此，许多特定的美国公民群体无法获得治疗，而居住在偏远地区、没有交通或需要在正常工作时间之外接受治疗的患者也无法获得治疗。面临漫长的等待时间和缺乏输入尽管在 COVID-19 大流行期间远程医疗治疗有所增加，但通过电话或屏幕讲话并不能提供与面对面互动相同的社交技能治疗，为了解决这些挑战，该项目。将创建一个虚拟现实（VR）自闭症诊所：一个身临其境的虚拟现实环境，经过认证的治疗师将提供植根于应用行为分析研究的实时治疗。这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发包含以下功能的软件。应用原则行为分析作为自闭症谱系障碍患者提高社交技能的模拟工具，该项目将开发一个交互式和沉浸式软件系统，专门设计用于满足应用行为分析的研究要求。该系统将包括为从业者提供实时行为分析的机制。反馈，并将结合利用被诊断患有自闭症的个人的动机的方法，可能会通过设想的最终产品显着减少由于位置、缺乏交通或日程安排问题而无法获得治疗的情况。一个远程虚拟现实平台，模拟实现设想的虚拟自闭症诊所将反映让受自闭症谱系障碍影响的个人能够通过变革性、可扩展、安全和技术先进的解决方案与他人学习、联系和互动。该奖项符合 NSF 的法定使命和通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，该项目被认为值得支持。