Abstract
Primary symptoms of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as pervasive social deficits in social interaction and communication, cause adults with ASD to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Meanwhile, gamified and behavioral theory-based interventions have been shown to improve physical activity in a fun and unobtrusive way. In this paper, we describe the iterative design inquiry process of PuzzleWalk, a gamified, physical activity-promoting mobile app designed for adults with ASD. We report the design rationales and lessons learned across four user-centered design phases with ASD experts and adults with ASD, including user requirement gathering, iterative participatory design, usability evaluation, and field deployment. The design insights generated from this work could inform future research focusing on designing sociotechnical systems, games, and interventions for people with ASD.
Highlights
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction along with unusual patterns of restricted, repetitive behaviors [1]
We demonstrate the effectiveness of a behavior change techniques (BCTs)-based smartphone application, PuzzleWalk, designed through user-centered design (UCD)
This paper focuses on reporting the design rationales and lessons learned throughout the design inquiry, and we leave it to future studies to assess the long-term sustainability of a mobile appguided physical activity (PA) intervention in adults with ASD
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction along with unusual patterns of restricted, repetitive behaviors [1]. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018, the estimated prevalence of ASD is about 1-in-59 children in the US and has steadily increased over the past two decades. The trend is likely to continue [2]. For this reason, research on how to best support children with ASD has blossomed in the past couple of decades [3, 4]. Adults with ASD have not received similar attention when compared to children with ASD, and relatively little research on the prognosis, outcomes, or effective interventions.
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