By Dan Nosowitz Posted 05.08.2012 at 4:26 pm 8 Comments

Kids Playing Flickr user Michale

There are five Microsoft Kinects set up all around the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, but they're not for playing games (or any of the other stuff the Kinect can do with an Xbox). They're monitoring the students, looking for signs of unusual behavior that might indicate a potential autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD--a range of conditions that all fall under the broad term of "autism"--can be difficult to diagnose. Many behaviors, especially in small children, are subtle, little tweaks of behavior that are just enough different from the norm to warrant a closer look. Following the clues is a time-consuming and slow process--it takes hours upon hours of observation, and not everyone can afford a trained specialist (or MRI test) to do that for their child. That can mean undiagnosed and thus untreated children.

The Kinects are set up in the Institute of Child Development to track the individual children by size and the color of their clothing, and can monitor about ten children at a time. Software takes the raw visual data from the Kinects and runs it through an algorithm to look for possible markers of ASD, like an unusually hyperactive or unusually quiet and calm child. It's not designed to replace specialists--it can't really track some telltale signs of ASD, like a failure to make eye contact--but it could be an incredibly cost-effective early heads-up system, making sure that everyone can afford early diagnostics.

[New Scientist]

8 Comments

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Aldrons Last Hope
05/09/12 at 1:30 pm

The rise in Autism in the USA is due to the now mandatory vaccinations that have mercury in them. This fact is supported by hundreds of credible dr’s. Just google it, there are vast amounts of data on the subject. The mercury also reduced children’s I.Q’s. This is a conspiracy of the highest order.

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Mycellium
05/09/12 at 4:49 pm

The problem is so minute that it takes a trained expert and hours of observation with 5 cameras to detect?! Leave the kid alone their fine. Sounds like some low on work therapists looking for some business. There is a continuum of normal behavior in people, if its not a problem leave them alone.

This is a solution in need of a problem.

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Mister.Man
05/09/12 at 7:45 pm

@Aldrons Last Hope: Hilarious that you vaccine conspiracy theorists are still using the "just google it" line. Good luck finding anything on the first 10 pages of results that supports your crackpot paranoia.

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hollowaysdogsagan
05/09/12 at 8:54 pm

@Aldrons Last Hope: Ignoramus or troll?

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walterslab
05/09/12 at 10:17 pm

I'll choose to treat you as mininformed, Aldrons.

@Aldrons, you know the British scientist who came up with the vaccination claptrap was discredited, right? Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum many times look to assign blame, but unfortunately, Autism is so many things "caused" by numerous causes: brain structure, development, chemistry, genetics...

Please don't perpetuate what has been proven a myth. The spreading of misinformation like yours damages the efforts of others underminds everyone's understanding of important topics.

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JediMindset
05/10/12 at 12:10 pm

@Aldrons Last Hope,

once again you are correct. its a fact, mandatory shots in children also shorten their lifespan. also, it makes them prone to many diseases, viruses and cancer. keep spreading that truth aldron. these sheep are brainwashed by big brother so dont know better.

"religion is like a prison for the seekers of wisdom"

-Killah Priest

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Aldrons Last Hope
05/11/12 at 1:06 pm

Hey JMS… man these sheep are pathetic aren’t they? Should I enlighten them and leave some links for these morons to wake up two…okay lets.

http://www.naturalnews.com/011764.html banned around the world but not for Americans

http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/japvaxautism/

@walterslab, wake up, there is overwhelming evidence to support these claims, just like with aspartame causing cancer …but honestly you are either too lazy or lack a mind of your own.

@Misterman, how come I found these 2 links on the first page?? You don’t know how the system works, take your vaccines and lower your IQ, actually seems like its working

This isn’t funny, this is an attack on America, you think the elite take the same vaccines you do?? No they don’t?

http://autism.about.com/b/2007/05/29/does-thimerosal-mercury-in-vaccines-cause-autism-the-vaccine-court-will-decide.htm

4,800 cases before the courts, but pharma has enough money to buy the courts.

And anyone who think the parent are over reacting aren’t parents.

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Aldrons Last Hope
05/11/12 at 1:34 pm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/22/u-s-government-concedes-that-mercury-causes-autism.aspx

Go to the link, read the comments and educate yourselves.



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