Kinect Cameras Watch for Autism From: New Scientist - 05/08/2012 By: Niall Firth An automated system that keeps watch over children could spot the telltale signs of autism and lead to earlier diagnoses University of Minnesota researchers are using Microsoft Kinect sensors and computer-vision algorithms to detect behavioral abnormalities and automate the early diagnosis of autism in children. The researchers, led by Guillermo Sapiro and Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos, equipped a nursery with five Kinect depth-sensing cameras to monitor groups of 10 children as they play. The cameras identify and track children based on their shape and the hue of their clothes, and this data is fed to three computers, which run software that logs each child's activity level and plots it against the room's average. "The idea is not that we are going to replace the diagnosis, but we are going to bring diagnosis to everybody," Sapiro says. "The same way a good teacher flags a problem child, the system will do automatic flagging and say, 'Hey, this kid needs to see an expert.' " By studying video footage of children interacting with a psychiatrist, computer-vision algorithms learn to identify behavioral markers as designated on the Autism Observation Scale for Infants. The system measures traits such as a child's ability to follow an object as it passes in front of the eyes, and notes certain mannerisms or postures that are classified as being early signs of a possible Autism Spectrum Disorder. Read the entire article at: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428636.400-kinect-cameras-watch-for-autism.html Also on this webpage: Brain Training for Stroke Recovery Kinect-like depth-sensing cameras could help people recover from a stroke. MindMaze, a firm founded by Tej Tadi in Lausanne, Switzerland, is developing a system that allows patients to treat themselves from their hospital bed rather than waiting for weekly therapy sessions. "When you maximise therapy time, it is better for your brain," says Tadi. Patients wear virtual reality glasses that guide them through a series of exercises, while a custom-made camera tracks their movements. Their progress is recorded for therapists to evaluate later. Once home from the hospital, the patient could continue their exercises using an actual Kinect and an Xbox 360 app. Links: Institute of Child Development http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/ Guillermo Sapiro http://www.ece.umn.edu/facultyECE/ECEFACULTYGUILLERMOSAPIRO.html MindMaze http://www.mindmaze.com/