E.Cue

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) touches a significant cross section of our community, with 1 in 70 people in Australia currently diagnosed. Amongst the largest challenges preventing the participation of individuals with ASD in mainstream systems such as employment, education and recreation is a limited capacity for self-regulation. Self-regulation refers to one's ability to control and respond to thoughts, feelings and emotions. However, self-regulation is intrinsically linked to one's capacity for Emotion Recognition, a process with detectable physical symptoms.

E.Cue applies biofeedback technologies to monitor and detect the physical symptoms of changes in emotion, thus providing users with an increased capacity for emotion recognition and furthermore self-regulation. Data collected by embedded sensors sites is processed by the E.Cue app to notify users when these changes occur. The user is then prompted to complete a self-evaluation to identify and manage the emotion they are experiencing, mimicking clinical techniques that increase capacity to Self-Regulate. Additionally the app interfaces with the physical features of the device to provide the optionality for sensory soothing activities.

E.Cue represents an intersection between the management of ASD and technology, integrating biofeedback technology and data aggregation with traditional clinical techniques. Products currently available in the ASD market are analogue in nature, primarily designed for clinical use and lacking in integration of modern technologies. As a result these products do not meet the diverse needs of the ASDmarket. E.Cue differs by providing a discrete product that integrates into the user's life. The utilisation of modern technology ensures that users are provided with continuous support, promoting independence, whilst enhancing treatment through traditional support services and providing significant insight through aggregated data.

The inspiration for this project is my mother, Cathie Leigh-Smith, a psychologist who has devoted over 30 years of her career to improving the lives of people with an Intellectual Disability. Over the past years we have had many conversations around the challenges that her clients with ASD experience. What struck me during these conversations was the lack of products available to support management of these challenges, particularly products that utilise modern technologies. Through further research I was inspired to develop a solution that places empowerment of the user at the center of the product's design and philosophy.