Inclusive Co-Design of Augmented Reality Digital Helpers for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults: A Study on Just-In-Time Augmented Reality Assistance

This study explored inclusive, augmented reality (AR) digital helpers as assistive technology that are codesigned by autistic adolescents and young adults. The study used a participatory design process and partnered with autistic adolescents and young adults to codesign AR digital helper prototypes. The findings indicated a positive impact from the codesign role for autistic participants and high enthusiasm for applied AR digital helpers from all participant groups. The study established new insights into AR digital helper characteristics and their perceived utility as helpers for autistic adolescents and young adults. This article presents a summary of the study’s methods, discusses its findings and limitations, and outlines potential future research goals.