Index | Contact | Web Map | Accessibility | Orange

 

AZAHAR

Driven by the Fundación Orange, developed by the Autism and Learning Difficulties Group of the Robotics Institute of the University of Valencia, with the support of Tourism, Commerce and Industry Ministry's Avanza Plan, and Autismo Ávila and Autismo Burgos for the experimental evaluation.

The Azahar project aims to create a set of 10 communication, leisure and planning applications run on a mobile phone or a laptop, helping to improve the quality of life and independence of people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities. The applications allow for the addition of pictograms, glyphs, images and sounds completely adapted to each user, with the possibility of using photos of themselves and their families, as well as their voices.

The applications allow a great degree of customization via the Tutor application to configure them according to the needs of the end-user, customizing them with drawings, photos, pictograms, glyphs, sounds, etc. that can be loaded onto the system so that the person with autism and/or intellectual disabilities can use them adapted to their language, environment and needs.

The criteria used for the development of all applications is based on the TEACCH methodology, incorporating a series of "step by step" help with visual aids. Each of the Azahar applications is accompanied by a series of steps posted at the top of the screen, which reports on the process from the first moment the user is on screen until the reproduction of the application.

Azahar uses Java technology, more specifically it is based on J2ME, offering a multiplatform system regardless of the operating system. For now, it has been designed for computers with Windows XP and Windows Vista operating system, and for mobile devices, PDA's etc. that run Windows Mobile 5.0 or higher.

---

The applications, as well as pedagogical guides that provide guidelines for use, are available free of charge on the project web page: www.proyectoazahar.org. Remaining applications are under development for launch at the end of 2010

Applications now avalaible:

-The HELLO Communicator offers a communication based on pictograms or glyphs so that autistic people can signal in order to communicate something. The keys have to be made up by the tutor to suit each individual by the personalization of the application. So, by pressing on them, personalised words as well as pre-recorded phrases are heard. For the software design of this interface current knowledge about the intervention in autistic communication, especially alternative systems of aided communication, has been taken into account, such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) by which children learn to develop communicative intention and to communicate through a series of strategies and methods of education that the Hello Communicator is compatible with .

-The MESSAGES application is closely related to Hello, because it allows the same functionality (contact) but this time for sending messages between mobiles with pictograms. Here the user with autism (and/or intellectual disabilities), as well as choosing the pictogram or sequence, also have to choose who to send it to from a list of pictures of their loved ones. If both mobile phones have the Azahar software, the message will be received in pictograms and if not, a short text message will be seen .

-The mp3 player called MUSIC makes it possible for those persons who are unable to learn how to use a conventional mp3 player to also have the opportunity to listen to music in an accessible format. With this application, songs can be uploaded accompanied by personalised images that appear on the autistic persons screen and that simply touching them with a finger is enough to begin listening to their favorite songs .

- The PERSONAL GUIDE application tries to make the communication for people with autism easier, this time by showing their appearance to others. To do this, pictograms about important aspects of the person are entered, like their likes and dislikes, their preferences and any other specific personal information which help them to present themselves to people for the first time.

- TIC-TAC clocks are helpful for those who have not learnt the concept of time or how to use conventional clocks, those who often have difficulties in situations that require waiting or in any activity that does not have an exact timescale. This is a group of clocks (a decreasing bar, circulars or sand) that can be adapted to every person and situation, all being fully programmable.

Cooming soon:

Video or voice calls

Photo album

SOS Request

Reminders, alarms, warnings and notes

Agenda