Increasingly computer technology is used in autism therapy as a complement, or alternative to existing therapy methods. While personal computers have been used for quite some time, more recent technologies, such as mobile robots and virtual environments provide existing new types of interaction and new means of therapy and education. Interactivity is one of the key features of such advanced computer, robotic, and virtual environments.

This workshop intends to bring together psychologists, educators, roboticists and computer scientists who are currently involved in developing new computer-based tools for autism therapy. A small number of participants (15-20) will have sufficient time for presenting and discussing their work. The workshop will provide a state-of-the-art overview and will identify fundamental challenges, open problems and research issues.

A summary of the workshop contributions will be made available as a Technical Report (Communication of the Adaptive Systems Research Group, University of Hertfordshire). Participation is free of charge. Lunch and coffee will be provided. Travel, accomodation, and costs for evening meals need to be covered by the participants.

Please send inquiries, questions and comments to the workshop organiser Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn, K.Dautenhahn@herts.ac.uk

Room 1F266, Wright Building

8:30- Coffee

9:00 Welcome

9:15-10:45: Session Autism and Development

"The Functional Use of Imitation in Preverbal Infants and Nonverbal Childen with Autism" Jacqueline Nadel (CNRS, Paris)

10:45-11:15: Coffee Break

11:15-12:45: Session: Computers and Education:

"Computer support for productive interaction: methods and possible issues in the context of children with autism"

Andrew Tolmie (University of Strathclyde)

"Empowering Communication with Information Technology"

Dinah Murray

12:45-13:30: Lunch

13:30-14:30: Session Robots and Autism I:

"The Aurora project: Investigating Mobile Robots in Autism Therapy"

Kerstin Dautenhahn, Iain Werry, Bernard Ogden (University of Hertfordshire, University of Reading)

14:30-15:15: Session Robots and Autism II:

"Analysing Interactive Competencies of Children with Autism Playing with a Mobile Robot"

Penny Stribling, Paul Dickerson, John Rae (Univ. Surrey Roehampton)

15:15-15:45: Coffee Break

15:45-16:30: Session Robots and Autism III:

"Designing a Robot for Contingency-Detection Game"

Hideki Kozima/Hiroyuki Yano (CRL, Japan)

16:30-18:00: Discussion/Panel (David Messer, Andrew Tolmie, and others)

19:00 Dinner in Restaurant (Quality Hotel, in walking distance to Unversity)

8:00 - Coffee

8:30-10:00: Session: Virtual Environments and Autism I: Sarah Parsons, Sue Cobb, Helen Neale (University of Nottingham)

10:00-10:30: Session: Computers and Education:

"Adaptive hypermedia in special education and neuropsychological testing"

Jaakko Kurhila, Erkki Sutinen (University of Helsinki, Finland)

10:30-11:00: Coffee Break

11:00-12:00: Session: Virtual Environments and Autism II:

"A Virtual Playmate to Train Social Attention in Very Young Children with Autism - Conceptual Description"

Cheryl.Trepagnier (National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, USA)

12:00-13:00: Lunch

13:00-14:00: Session: Assistive Technology and Autism: Helen Petrie (Sensory Disability Research Unit, University of Hertfordshire)

14:00-15:00: Panel Discussion

15:00 End of Workshop

The University of Hertfordshire at Hatfield is situated 3 miles north of the London orbital (M25) at junction 3 of the A1(M) and is easily accessible by road, rail (Hatfield or Stevenage stations) and air (Luton, Stanstead, Heathrow, Gatwick). The location of Hatfield Campus can be found here, for a detailed map of the buildings on the campus click here. Please come to the University's main reception upon arrival (Number 1 on campus map). The Wright building, number 10 on campus map, which is the workshop venue on Thursday is located behind the main building. On Friday the workshop will be held in the main building. From main reception signs will show directions to the rooms.

From Gatwick Airport trains are going via London to Hatfield. From Heathrow airport take the tube (metro, Piccadilly line), get off at Finsbury Park, from there take a train to Hatfield. If you are arriving with the Eurostar, from Waterloo station, take the tube (metro, Northern line, direction: "northbound") and get off at Warren Street. Switch to the Victoria line (eastbound) and get off at Finsbury Park. Take the train to Hatfield Station. The journey from Heathrow/Gatwick/Waterloo with tube/trains to Hatfield can take 2 hours (you might make it faster though).

Participants should inform K.Dautenhahn@herts.ac.uk if they arrive by car. Parking spaces for visitors can be arranged close to main reception.

Hatfield Lodge Hotel, Comet way, from 45 Pounds onwards

Jarvis International Hotel, from 45 Pounds onwards

Quality Hotel Hatfield, Roehyde Way (in walking distance from University):

Cheaper accomodation (Bed and Breakfast places) could be find in the nearby town St. Albans. The tourist Office of St. Albans can be reached by phone: 01727 864511. There are busses from St. Albans to UH Hatfield campus (number 602).