Tangible user interfaces: tools to examine, assess and treat dynamic constructional processes in children with developmental coordination disorders

Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) are a subset of human-computer interfaces that try to capture more of the users’ innate ability of handling physical objects in the real world. The TUI known as ActiveCube is a set of graspable plastic cubes which allow the user to physically attach or detach cubes by connecting or disconnecting their faces. Each cube is essentially a small computer which powers up and communicates with its neighbours upon connection to a neighbouring cube. When users assemble a physical shape using the system they also connect a network topology which allows ActiveCube to digitize and track the exact 3D geometry of the physical structure formed. From the user’s perspective, ActiveCube is a very powerful tool; the 3D shape being built with it physically is tracked in the virtual domain in real-time. ActiveCube’s use as a concrete, ecologically valid tool to understand dynamic functional processes underlying constructional ability in either typically developed children or in children with neurological pathology has not yet been explored. The objective of this paper is to describe the ActiveCube interface designed for assessing and treating children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). In our pilot study, six male children, aged 6 to 7 years, three with DCD and three who are typically developed were tested. The children’s task was to successively use the ActiveCubes to construct 3D structures in a “matching” strategy known as “Perspective Matching”. The usability results showed that all the participating children enjoyed the tasks, were motivated and maintained a high level of alertness while using the ActiveCubes. More than 80% of them found the tasks to be easy or moderate. “Similarity” data from single subjects has been used to show differences in constructional ability between children with DCD and those who are typically developed. This automated ActiveCube three-dimensional (3D) constructional paradigm has promise for the assessment and treatment of children with DCD.