Collaborative virtual environment technology for people with autism

This paper focuses on an investigation of collaborative virtual environment (CVE) technology for people with autism, paying particular attention to the use of avatar representations of emotions. A prima facie case for a CVE technological approach is developed, which argues that CVE offers great potential benefits for people with autism. An empirical study of people with autism using a simulated CVE system has been carried out. Results suggest that, on the whole, the participants were able to recognise and operate the avatar representations when communicating via the CVE system.