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.