Approximately 50% of all individuals with Autism have difficulties in developing functional language owing to communication deterioration. Mobile devices with installed educational games help these individuals feel more comfortable and relaxed doing such activities. Although numerous mobile applications are available for individuals with Autism, they are difficult to use; particularly in terms of user-interface design. From the analysis of existing apps for autistic children, an app design principles are proposed based on interaction design (IxD), that would fulfil the users’ requirements in a better manner. Five applications were involved in this analysis. The analysis identified fifteen suggestions for the design principles. These recommendations are offered by this paper towards designing and developing a prototype app for autistic children. This paper introduces an edutainment-system design principle formulated to help develop the communication skills of children with Autism-spectrum disorders.

1.
C.
 
Schwenck
 and
C.
 
Freitag
,
ADHD Attention Deficit And Hyperactivity Disorders
 
6
, (
2014
).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-014-0147-9
2.
D.
 
Achmadi
,
J.
 
Sigafoos
,
L.
 
van der Meer
,
D.
 
Sutherland
,
G.
 
Lancioni
,
M.
 
O’Reilly
,
F.
 
Hodis
,
V.
 
Green
,
L.
 
McLay
 and
P.
 
Marschik
,
Journal Of Developmental And Physical Disabilities
 
26
, (
2014
).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-014-9379-z
3.
S. G.
 
Hansen
,
A. W.
 
Blakely
,
J. K.
 
Dolata
,
T.
 
Raulston
, and
W.
 
Machalicek
,
J. Autism Dev. Disord
 
1
, (
2014
).
4.
R.
 
Verschuur
,
R.
 
Didden
,
R.
 
Lang
,
J.
 
Sigafoos
, and
B.
 
Huskens
,
J. Autism Dev. Disord
 
1
, (
2013
).
5.
M.
 
Mustika
,
C. Te
 
Kao
,
C. Y.
 
Cheng
,
J. S.
 
Heh
,
C. S.
 
Lin
, and
Y. S.
 
Tsai
, in
7th International Conference Ubi-Media Computer Work-2014,
pp.
319
–
321
.
6.
N. Z. M.
 
Zain
,
M.
 
Mahmud
, and
A.
 
Hassan
, “
Utilization of mobile apps among student with learning disability from Islamic perspective
,” in
5th International Conference Information Communcation Technology Muslim World-2013
, pp.
1
–
4
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
J.
 
Mintz
,
Computer Education
,
63
, (
2013
).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.11.006
8.
N.
 
Saleh
,
E.
 
Prakash
, and
R.
 
Manton
, “
Measuring student acceptance of game based learning for game and technology education curriculum development
,” in
International Conference Educcation Technology Computer-2014
, pp.
79
–
85
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
S.
 
Petersen
,
J.
 
Baalsrud
,
H.
 
Eds
, and
D.
 
Hutchison
,
Serious Games Development and Applications
(
Springer International Publishing
 
switzerland
,
2014
).
Google Scholar
 
10.
M. O.
 
Mazurek
 and
C.
 
Wenstrup
,
J Autism Dev. Disord
 
43
, (
2013
).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1659-9
11.
M.
 
Mazurek
 and
C.
 
Engelhardt
,
Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders
 
7
, (
2013
).
12.
Saleh
,
J. M.
 
Aljaam
,
A.
 
Karime
, and
A.
 
El Saddik
, “
An edutainment system for assisting qatari children with moderate intellectual and learning disability through exerting physical activities
,” in
IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference-2013
, pp.
886
–
892
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
13.
P. C.
 
Ribeiro
,
B. B. P. L.
 
De Araujo
, and
A.
 
Raposo
,
Brazilian Symposium on Computer Games and Digital Entertainment
(
2014
).
Google Scholar
 
14.
M.
 
Aziz
,
S.
 
Abdullah
,
S.
 
Adnan
 and
L.
 
Mazalan
,
Procedia Computer Science
 
42
, (
2014
).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2014.11.035
15.
S. R.
 
Dehkordi
 and
R. M.
 
Rias
, “
Using mobile game application to teach children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) multiple cues responding: A pilot study
,” in
3rd International Conference User Scince England-2014
, pp.
216
–
220
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
A.
 
Lyan
,
A.
 
Amjad
,
A.
 
Shaden
 and
A.
 
Khalid
,
LNSE
 
3
, (
2015
).
https://doi.org/10.7763/LNSE.2015.V3.191
17.
J.
 
Xin
 and
D.
 
Leonard
,
J Autism Dev Disord
 
45
, (
2014
).
18.
B.
 
Nancy
,
J.
 
Rasche
,
Z. Y.
 
Qian
,
S.
 
Visser
,
C. B.
 
Zoltowski
, and
Z. Y.
 
Qian
, “
Design strategy for the development of applications for autism instruction
,” Ph.D. thesis,
Purdue University
, (
2014
).
Google Scholar
 
19.
D.
 
Hutchison
, Computers Helping People with Special Needs (
Springer International Publishing
 
switzerland
,
2014
).
20.
H.
 
Preece
,
Y.
 
Rogers
, and
Sharp
,
Interaction Design
(
Wiley & Sons
,
England
,
2007
).
Google Scholar
 
21.
F. A.
 
Aziz
,
H.
 
Husni
, and
Z.
 
Jamaludin
, “
Translating interaction design guidelines for dyslexic children’s reading application
,” in
World Congr. England-2013
, pp.
3
–
5
.
22.
A.
 
Cooper
,
R.
 
Reimann
, and
D.
 
Cronin
,
About face 3
(
Wiley Pub
,
IN
,
2007
).
Google Scholar
 
23.
J.
 
Löwgren
,
Human-Computer Interaction Issues challenges
(
2001
).
24.
A. N. P.
 
Alves
, “
Tactile Interfaces for Television Post-production Environments
,” Ph.D. thesis,
University of Harbor
, (
2013
).
Google Scholar
 
25.
M.
 
Cohen
 and
D.
 
Sloan
,
Visual Supports For People With Autism
(
Woodbine House
,
Bethesda, MD
,
2007
).
Google Scholar
 
26.
M.
 
Barry
,
A.
 
Kehoe
, and
I.
 
Pitt
, “
Usability Evaluation of Educational Game Software for Children with Autism
,” in
Conference on Educational Media and Technology-2008
.
27.
J.
 
Shields
,
Child Lang. Teach. Ther.
 
15
,
2
, pp.
192
–
193
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
28.
Barry
 and
I.
 
Pitt
, in
Conferece Interaction Design Child-2006, Conference Proceedings
, pp.
33
–
36
.
29.
V.
 
Vaishnavi
 and
W.
 
Kuechler
,
Design science research methods and patterns
(
2007
).
30.
I.
 
Kerssens-van Drongelen
 and
A.
 
Cooke
,
R&D Managemant
 
27
, (
1997
).
31.
S.
 
Khan
,
M. N.
 
Tahir
, and
A.
 
Raza
, “
Usability issues for smartphone users with special needs - Autism
,” in
ICOSST-International Conference Open Source Syststem Technology-2013
, pp.
107
–
113
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
32.
C.
 
Mariage
,
J.
 
Vanderdonckt
, and
C.
 
Pribeanu
,
Handbook Of Human Factors Web Design
(
2005
).
33.
M. I.
 
Ahmad
, “
Design and Evaluation of a Mobile Learning application for Autistic Children in a Developing Country
,” Ph.D,
University Paderborn
, (
2013
).
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2016 Author(s).
2016
Author(s)
You do not currently have access to this content.