Emotion management app helps individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A smartphone case linked to the app monitors emotional changes and provides users with alerts

Spotted: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulty recognising emotions and regulating their reactions to them. Chloe Leigh-Smith, the creator of E.Cue, was surprised to find a distinct lack of technological support for people with the disorder. E.Cue is a biofeedback system consisting of a smartphone case and accompanying app. The phone case provides soothing, ridged, natural shapes to help with self-regulation of emotions, and it changes colour depending on the amount of pressure applied.

Using Galvanic Skin Response sensors, the system monitors the physical aspects of each emotion. When a change occurs, the app sends an alert to the user and guides them through a mix of clinically-approved questions and activities. E.Cue is designed specifically to provide on-going support to a user’s traditional methods of managing the disorder, such as counselling.

Of great importance is the ability to customise the app. Depending on each individual’s sensory and cognitive preferences, the levels of haptic feedback, colours, volume, shapes and more are personalised. E.Cue holds a provisional patent, and Leigh-Smith’s development plans include adapting the system to make it helpful to people with mental illnesses and behavioural disorders.

Other methods Springwise has spotted of supporting people with ASD include a jobs board that matches individuals with roles particularly suited to their skill set and an online platform that helps provide early diagnosis for young children.

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