Researchers in Michigan are looking for ways to utilize new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to help families and teachers take care of children who have developmental disabilities.
Sarah Douglas, a professor at Michigan State University, said these new technologies, including AI, have transformed “the playing field” for children with disabilities.
Douglas is researching how a technology called a Wearable Human Interaction Tracker can support peer interactions for kids with conditions like autism.
“I see the same thing with other technologies allowing teachers to focus on actually providing intervention to children and not collecting data about what children are doing,” she said. “And I think in today's classrooms, teachers are really overloaded. And so if we can take some of that off of their plate through the use of smart technologies, then we can really probably keep teachers longer in the classroom as well and reduce burnout.”
Children in the classroom wear this credit-card-size sensor in their pocket of a specially designed t-shirt that indicates their exact location and movements, Douglas said.
“We can determine how long interactions are occurring with children, who is starting interactions, who's leaving interactions, if they have certain areas of the classroom that might be a preference,” she said. “We also have other aspects of the sensor that can be utilized, things like measuring sound.
“So, if there's increased sound, and then the child moves to a different place, that might tell us that they're sensitive to sound.”
To develop this tracker, Douglas worked with MSU professor of computer engineering Subir Biswas who repurposed a sensor that was originally designed for astronauts.
“The particular sensor that we're using was originally designed to help determine which astronauts would be well paired to go into space together,” Douglas said. “When you're sent on a space mission, you are going to be in an enclosed space with people for a period of time. ... They basically were trying to help understand the dynamics of the interactions.”
After the trackers gather the data on kids’ behaviors, Douglas said she’s using AI algorithms to find patterns and identify what’s happening in child’s social behavior.
In the future, Douglas said she hopes to use “Human-in-the-loop AI” to send alerts to teachers.
“For example, it could alert a teacher that a child is climbing furniture ... that's a very dangerous behavior,” Douglas said. “Another thing that they could be alerted on is if a child's been alone for a certain amount of time.”
Robert Wyse, a recent doctoral graduate from Central Michigan University, worked on a similar research. He developed an app, called TechCT, that helps caregivers give children directions more effectively.
“I was able to work in early childhood setting, and I was able to see a lot of interactions with families, and I just can't help but think, ‘Oh, how can I help?’” Wyse said.
The app has videos, quizzes and feedback. It can be helpful for kids who have autism, but it can also be used for all children, Wyse said.
“When given that direction, it's really helpful for all children ... if someone’s close,” Wyse said. “That kind of says, ‘Oh, it's time to listen and pay attention.’ Saying the child's name first. And then when you deliver that direction, saying it kindly but assertively, so that way, it's clear that it is a direction like, “Jimmy, clean up your clothes.”
AI has supported this project as well. Wyse said it helped him code, write the scripts for videos and refine the word choice so that tone is compassionate and respectful.
But what’s important when it comes to using AI is making sure that there’s always a human making decisions, Wyse said.
“I can have the AI support me in those redundant activities, and I can focus on more about what's important to this project and designing the project and keeping all the ethical and research concerns in my mind, and not necessarily the little details that the computer can support,” he said.
While the research materials are already online, the app is not currently available. Wyse said after he makes sure it works appropriately, he hopes people will be able to use it on their phones.
Douglas said her research on wearable trackers has funding through 2026, but she’s working on getting additional funds to continue the work.
Currently, the trackers are some steps away from being available for classrooms to use, Douglas said.
“There is definitely a possibility for schools to be able to purchase the trackers,” she said. “There's lots of potential for example, for one or two systems, depending on the size of the school, to be utilized across multiple different classrooms, to also make it more affordable.”
