Team Launches Autism Research App
From: Bioscience Technology - 10/16/2015

A team of researchers and software developers from Duke University and the
Duke Medical Center has introduced a free iOS app to learn more about autism
in young children living around the world.

Beginning Thursday, a ResearchKit app called "Autism & Beyond" is being
offered from the Apple App Store for use on iOS devices. ResearchKit is a new
open-source framework developed by Apple that allows researchers to create
app-based studies with a global reach.

The free program from Duke is not a diagnostic tool. It is intended to test
the reliability of smart phone questionnaires and video analysis of facial
expressions as a possible screening tool for autism and other developmental
disorders of children.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2015/10/team-launches-autism-research-app

Links:
Duke Launches Autism Research App
http://today.duke.edu/2015/10/autismbeyond

ResearchKit Collaboration Showcases Duke Teamwork and Speed (with video 0:59)
https://www.dtmi.duke.edu/news/researchkit-collaboration-showcases-duke-teamwork-and-speed

ResearchKit
http://www.apple.com/researchkit

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App Reads Facial Expressions for Autism, Depression, PTSD Symptoms
From: Medical Design Technology - 12/30/2015

Thanks in part to support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), there's an
app that may screen for autism by reading kids' facial expressions for
emotional cues.

The app, called "Autism & Beyond," was developed by researchers and software
developers at Duke University and the Duke Medical Center. It currently is
available for free download from the Apple App Store to families wishing to
participate in a six-month medical research study by Duke University.

"Autism & Beyond" has children complete a series of questionnaires and watch
short videos designed to make them smile, laugh and be surprised. Parents or
caregivers use an iPhone's user-facing "selfie" camera to record children's
facial movements for evaluation by doctors, researchers and software.

Once the autism studies are complete, Sapiro hopes to eventually expand and
tailor the app to conditions suffered by warfighters, including PTSD, TBI and
depression. As with autism, facial expressions can indicate the presence of
such disorders. For example, many individuals suffering from PTSD or
depression smile often, but their grins tend to be forced and short. Improved
analysis of such facial expressions could lead to more accurate diagnoses by
doctors and, consequently, enhanced treatment options for military personnel
and veterans.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/12/app-reads-facial-expressions-autism-depression-ptsd-symptoms

Links:
Autism & Beyond
https://autismandbeyond.researchkit.duke.edu

Autism & Beyond app on iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autism-beyond/id1025327516?mt=8

Guillermo Sapiro
http://ece.duke.edu/faculty/guillermo-sapiro