Ippei Torii

Bio: Ippei Torii is an academic researcher from Aichi Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: k-nearest neighbors algorithm & Reduct. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 59 publications receiving 154 citations.

Voice output communication aid application for personal digital assistant for autistic children

Abstract: Let's Talk! is a new VOCA (Voice Output Communication Aid) application for PDA for autistic children. This application has many advantages comparing to existing VOCA. We especially focused on an easy and simple manipulation. By tapping a symbol on a screen of a PDA with this application, a user can show his/her thoughts with pictures and sounds to others easily. It has 120 symbols based on daily life. There are 2 modes which can be switched depending on different situations of users. On gSupportive Modeh, a supporter shows the application to a user. On Self-use Mode, a user can tell what he/she wants directly with categories and symbols. It is possible to make original icons with a camera or a voice recorder in PDA. A user also can customize an original page by arranging icons he made or existing symbols.

Modified Reduct: Nearest Neighbor Classification

Abstract: Dimension reduction of data is an important theme as in the data processing and on the web to represent and manipulate higher dimensional data. Rough set developed is fundamental and useful to process higher dimensional data. Reduct in the rough set is a minimal subset of features, which has almost the same discernible power as the entire features in the higher dimensional scheme. Then, there are relations between reducts and their classification classes. Here, we develop a method which connects reducts and the nearest neighbor method to classify data with higher classification accuracy. To improve the classification ability of reducts, we propose a new modified reduct and its optimization method for the classification with higher accuracy. Then, it is shown that the modified reduct improves the classification accuracy, which is followed by the optimized nearest neighbor classification.

Development and Study of Support Applications for Autistic Children

Abstract: We developed a new VOCA (Voice Output Communication Aid) application for personal digital assistant (PDA), “Let's Talk!” for autistic children. This application has many particular advantages comparing to existing VOCA. We especially focused on an easy and simple manipulation. By tapping a symbol on a screen of a PDA with this application, a user can show his/her thoughts with pictures and sounds to others easily. There are 2 modes that can be switched depending on different situations of users. It has 120 symbols based on daily life and a user can also create the original page with new icons made by pictures or sound. A user also can customize an original page by arranging icons he made or existing symbols. On the newest version of this application, we added Task Schedule System to stimulate motivations of children to do something by them. On the last part of this study, we show some case studies. We introduced this application to students in a school for handicapped children and collected data.

Augmentative and alternative communication with digital assistant for autistic children

Abstract: “Let's Talk!” is a new AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) application for personal digital assistant for autistic children. This new and remarkable application has many particular advantages comparing to existing AAC. We especially focused on an easy and simple manipulation. By tapping a symbol on a screen of a PDA with this application, a user can show his/her thoughts with pictures and sounds to others easily. There are 2 modes which can be switched depending on different situations of users. It has 120 symbols based on daily life and a user can also create the original page with new icons made by pictures or sound. The operation of “Let's Talk!” is simple and easy. When a user chooses one from 12 categories on the top page, more specific symbols will be appeared and voice sound will come out by touching a symbol. For example, if a user chooses “Eat” category and “bread” for a symbol, the voice will say “I want to eat bread.” There are 2 modes which can be switched depending on different situations of users. On “Supportive Mode”, a supporter shows the application to a user. On Self-use Mode, a user can tell what he/she wants directly with categories and symbols. It is possible to make original icons with a camera or a voice recorder in PDA. A user also can customize an original page by arranging icons he made or existing symbols.

Study and Development of Schedule Application for Autistic Children

Abstract: We studied and developed a new schedule application, "Smiley", for autistic children. We aimed to give the user an opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment and a motive to try something by him/herself by using this application. We cooperated with special support education schools to correct data and bugs, and to meet the demands of users. In this study, we discuss autism and education and clarify the theory we used to develop the application. Then we explain the usage and functions of the application. In the latter half of this paper, we show the data of the hearing investigation we made at a special support education school in Aichi, Japan.

Technologies as Support Tools for Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract: This study analyzes the technologies most widely used to work on areas affected by the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Technologies can focus on the strengths and weaknesses of this disorder as they make it possible to create controlled environments, reducing the anxiety produced by real social situations. Extensive research has proven the efficiency of technologies as support tools for therapy and their acceptation by ASD sufferers and the people who are with them on a daily basis. This article is organized by the types of systems developed: virtual reality applications, telehealth systems, social robots and dedicated applications, all of which are classified by the areas they center on: communication, social learning and imitation skills and other ASD-associated conditions. 40.5% of the research conducted is found to be focused on communication as opposed to 37.8% focused on learning and social imitation skills and 21.6% which underlines problems associated with this disorder. Although most of the studies reveal how useful these tools are in therapy, they are generic tools for ASD sufferers in general, which means there is a lack of personalised tools to meet each person's needs.

Agency of Autistic Children in Technology Research—A Critical Literature Review

Abstract: Autistic children are increasingly a focus of technology research within the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community. We provide a critical review of the purposes of these technologies and how they discursively conceptualise the agency of autistic children. Through our analysis, we establish six categories of these purposes: behaviour analysis, assistive technologies, education, social skills, therapy and well-being. Further, our discussion of these purposes shows how the technologies embody normative expectations of a neurotypical society, which predominantly views autism as a medical deficit in need of ‘correction’. Autistic children—purportedly the beneficiaries of these technologies—thus become a secondary audience to the largely externally defined purposes. We identify a lack of design for technologies that are geared towards the interests, needs and desires of autistic children. To move HCI’s research into autism beyond this, we provide guidance on how to consider agency in use and explicitly allow for appropriation beyond externally driven goals.