Psychologists all animated over app hopes to transport autistic kids to the next level

Parents now have a powerful tool at their disposal to better cope with the emotions of autistic children, thanks to a groundbreaking mobile application developed by Chinese University and Heep Hong Society.

The Transporters app, launched yesterday, serves as an intervention tool designed to enhance emotional cognition in children on the autism spectrum.

Its underlying concept originated from an anime series created by the Autism Research Centre and The Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge University.

A Chinese University research team converted the anime into an app and conducted extensive research here using this innovative tool, said clinical psychologist Chan Ka-yan.

"After watching 15 minutes of 'The Transporters' per day for four consecutive weeks, the scores of autistic children aged from four to six years old on measurements of emotional vocabulary and emotion identification were similar to typical developing children in the control group, showing a significant improvement in their ability to recognize emotions," said Patrick Leung Wing-leung, research professor of psychology.

The app was also found to benefit children with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, with their performance reaching the level of those in the control group, he said.

One notable aspect of "The Transporters" is that the emotional recognition skills learned can be applied beyond its specific content.

"Children can extend their understanding of emotions to new scenarios, situations and characters in daily life," he said. This feature enhances the app's practical value and ensures that the skills acquired are transferable.

Also, he said "The Transporters" is a relatively low-intensity intervention tool. It does not require prolonged usage to achieve significant therapeutic effects.

"Merely six hours of continuous use, which equates to approximately 73-75 episodes watched in a month, each lasting five minutes, can already yield a profound impact," Leung said, with this accessibility making the app highly practical for parents and caregivers.

The society's deputy chief executive of services, Kuo Chun-chuen, expressed optimism about the program's potential to benefit more children and their families.

By providing an effective and accessible intervention tool, the economic burden of professional treatment can be alleviated, making a positive difference in their lives.