Google Glass Helping Children With Autism Better Identify Emotions On Other’s Faces
A new project aims to validate the technology as a learning aid for kids who can struggle to understand social interactions, make eye contact or recognize facial expressions. In other health IT news, there's a growing movement to focus "digital health" efforts on the more vulnerable populations instead of just those who can afford it.
KQED:
Google Glass Flopped. But Kids With Autism Are Using It to Recognize Emotions
Some children with autism struggle to understand social interactions, make eye contact or recognize facial expressions. So the Stanford researchers developed facial-recognition software specifically for Glass. The software acts as a coach, helping the kids search for and correctly identify emotions expressed on people’s faces. The technology could impact millions of children. In 2014, one in 68 children was diagnosed with autism, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s up about 30 percent from the previous estimate in 2012. (Hoshaw, 6/23)
California Healthline:
'Digital Health' Not Just For Well-Heeled Fitness Fiends
A small but growing effort is ... aimed at using digital technologies — particularly cellphones — to improve the health of Americans who live on the margins. They may be poor, homeless or have trouble getting or paying for medical care even when they have insurance. The initiatives are gaining traction partly because of the growing use of mobile phones, particularly by lower-income people who may have little other access to the internet. (Feder Ostrov, 6/24)
