Grounded in research

FindMe was built in collaboration with Education and Informatics researchers from the University of Edinburgh. Part of the CLICK-EAST Project, the research study focused on designing an iPad app that would help autistic children to learn and practice basic social and communication skills in a fun way.

The research and development incorporated input from various areas of expertise including parents and teachers of children with autism.

Helping Children with Autism

FindMe helps children to develop their communication skills and understand the needs and feelings of others. The development of these skills can help break down a major barrier in the lives of children with a stronger degree of autism.

Developing Basic Skills

FindMe can help young children on the autism spectrum to develop and practice forms of communication that are often taken for granted. By providing a child with the opportunity to play a game that relies on the sharing and understanding of how people share their thoughts with each other, FindMe can make the process of development a pleasure, rather than a chore.

Learning to focus on other people

FindMe is designed to encourage children to focus on other people and their needs – something that people with autism can find difficult. FindMe is specifically designed to become increasingly difficult as the child progresses. As they make their way through the various levels they must contend with more and more distractions in order to achieve their goal.

Following and monitoring

Starting with a pointed finger the player taps the screen on the correct object. The levels become progressively harder as the character starts to simply look at the object. This functionality can be purchased from within the app.

Rewards

The reward system was specially designed to appeal to children with autism. The child receives a token as a reward for the completion of a task and upon the completion of five questions, are able to access FindMe’s musicbox.
This encourages the child to work for every treat and feel that they must be earned, and maintain focus as tasks become harder as the higher levels of the game are reached. The specially designed reward scene ensures that hard work can bring happiness and a little treat.

Playable in any language

To appeal to children of various nationalities the onscreen character speaks French, German, and English in both British and American accents.
We have also added functionality (priced at £4.99) to allow parents, teachers or the children themselves to record their own voice within the game. This allows FindMe to be played in any language

Preparation for the future

We hope that FindMe will help children with autism practice basic socialising skills before entering the pressurised environment of a nursery or primary school classroom.