Notice and Invitation

Master Thesis Examination

College of Computer and Information Sciences

Department of Information Systems

Abeer Abdullah Alarainy

Bachelor of Science  in Information Systems, Imam Mohammad bin Saud university, Department of Information Systems , 2008

Thesis Title

A Usability Evaluation of a Mobile Application for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technologies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tuesday, March, 29, 2016, 9:00 AM

Male: IS Department Council Meeting Room

Female: Bldg. 24, Room 4A-237

All are invited to attend.

Committee
Dr. Ali Alali, Advisor

Dr. Abdullah Almubarraz, Committee Member (Examiner)

Dr. Abdul Rahman Alasem, Committee Member (Examiner)

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the usability of the augmentative and alternative communication technology tool Sawti, a mobile application that was developed for Arabic-speaking children with ASD who have speech and language impairments. The usability is evaluated through the use of iPad devices that have had the Sawti application installed. This thesis examines to what extent the Sawti application meets the usability requirements for children with ASD. The series of experiments were conducted at the Azzam Autism Centre, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Six different tasks were designed for the tests, and nine children with ASD were asked to participate. Both observation and a questionnaire were used for experiment. The analysis of this study’s findings clearly show the efficiency of the Sawti application in that the participants were able to easily find what they were looking for, could successfully achieve most of their objectives, and were satisfied with its tasks that did not require skills such as typing or writing. Finally, this study summarizes some of the Sawti application’s usability problems, which will be submitted to developers to improve the application.