Investigating Perceived Ease-of-Use, Perceived Usefulness and Intention-to-Use of the Users of Augmented Reality Application among Parents and Teachers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Abstract

In recent years, there has been much research on the adoption and implementation of augmented reality (AR) applications in the learning and educational process to improve the various skills and engagement of typical children. Through immersive environments that create the illusion of physical presence in a non-physical world, AR has the potential to transform how students learn and engage with their surroundings by providing them with an interactive experience that lets the users superimpose digital information on the real. However, research on AR applications for children with special needs is still limited. A child with special needs is a person who has a disability that limits their quality of life in one or more domains, such as sensory, behavioural, developmental, or physical functioning. Therefore, the use of augmented reality applications incorporated with Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) methods was conducted in the present study to investigate perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, intention-to-use of the users of augmented reality application among parents and teachers of special needs children. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework, a set of questionnaires consisting of 33 items developed from the constructs of AR with PECS and TEACCH Approaches, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Intention to Use, Perceived Efficacy, and Training was randomly distributed among 381 parents and teachers of special needs children. The result of regression analysis using IBM-SPSS version 26.0 showed that the application of AR with PECS and TEACCH approaches can predict a satisfactory percentage of variance among parents and teachers of special needs children in terms of intention to use, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness. 1838 regression analysis from this study could serve as the basis for future research in AR application.