Interaction analysis in asperger through virtual media of text communication

Abstract

Currently the use of technologies by individuals with special mental conditions has shown significant impact. Social interaction is the foundation for the natural development and a component that requires different cognitive abilities. The study of the linguistic component through virtual media is a task that is approached from different methodologies allowing the extraction of additional information to the interaction process and fundamental for the work with therapists, patients and relatives. This article presents the development of a computational platform for the analysis of social interactions in terms of quantity and content of the information with the goal of approach the intervention and monitoring of mental pathologies. Indices to measure the cognitive development of an individual and Information Recuperation techniques has been adapted to the analysis context with the purpose of determine characteristics and find patterns in the linguistic and developmental components of the person. We evaluate interactions with 10 patients, 6 diagnosed with Asperger and 4 under Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder finding evidence of characteristics for these pathologies like abrupt change and redundancy towards conversation topics. The results suggest that these systems of computer mediated communication allow the discovering of therapeutic keys and boosting the person cognitive development.