Collaborative virtual environment for conducting design sessions with students with autism spectrum conditions

Young students with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often find it difficult to communicate with others face-to-face. Virtual reality offers a platform in which students can communicate in a safe and predictable environment where face-to-face communication is not necessary. Participatory design with end-users is an important part of developing successful, usable and enjoyable technology. As designers of technology for young students with ASC, we seek to involve these end-users in the design of software. Therefore, we have developed the Island of Ideas: a collaborative virtual environment (CVE) designed to facilitate participatory design activities with students with ASC. In this paper we report an experimental trial of the Island of Ideas CVE as a meeting space in which a researcher talks with students to find out their views on computer game design and their ideas for new game levels.