Transforming autism social skills training with eye tracking

In the ever-evolving field of autism therapy, innovative technology is making a profound impact on how children engage and learn. Eye tracking technology is emerging as a powerful tool in this space, and BioStream Technologies is one of the pioneers driving this revolution.

Our Research Scientist Dr. Marisa Biondi spoke with two key members of BioStream Technologies, Harry Schiavi, CEO, and Dr. Bob Ross, VP of Clinical Development and Integration. They are creating ground-breaking tools designed to support therapists and educators who work with children on the autism spectrum by leveraging Tobii eye tracking in their software systems.

Skip ahead to watch the full video interview.

The mission behind BioStream

Both Harry and Dr. Ross share a deep commitment to improving autism social skills training. For Harry, this mission is personal, as his son is on the autism spectrum. His drive stems from trying to engage with his child, only to face averted gazes. This personal experience fuels his desire to create early intervention tools for families facing long delays in receiving care.

“This wait-list, we're going to wipe it out. Every minute counts because early intervention has been proven to work.”

Dr. Ross, with over 40 years of experience working with individuals with severe behavioral challenges, echoed this sentiment. Having consulted worldwide, he repeatedly encountered two significant hurdles: the long wait to receive an autism diagnosis and then accessing quality care.

The mission is clear—simplify diagnosis, improve therapy, and make it more accessible.

How it works

BioStream was founded by Mike Farber. The heart of their innovation is the Lookware(TM) digital adjunctive therapy system, which integrates Tobii’s eye tracking technology with software informed by applied behavior analysis (ABA). The system teaches children to look at faces and recognize social cues—skills that are often difficult for those on the autism spectrum.

The Lookware(TM) system creates interactive activities that reward children for looking at different areas of the face and recognizing facial expressions. For example, when a child looks away from a character on the screen, the activity pauses until they return their gaze. The Tobii software tracks exactly where the child is looking, and the system reinforces looking at different areas of the face that provide important social information by providing rewards, like earning crystals.

Harry elaborates on the benefits:

“There's a lot of software out there that's called ‘eye tracking’ that is using things like AI and machine learning projecting where the child may be looking. We can't afford that in autism. We have to have actual measurements…And that is why Tobii's our partner. Because that device has the right parallax, the right amount of measurements, and the accuracy of those measurements.”

The precision of this system is unmatched, and it offers something that traditional social skills training can't—instant, accurate feedback on visual behavior. Dr. Ross explained that the software can shape the child’s attention, prompting them to look at key areas of the face (like the eyes or mouth) to gather social information, such as whether someone is happy, sad, or angry.

The power of data

The Lookware(TM) system doesn’t just improve social skills training; it also collects valuable daily data that tracks a child’s progress over time. This allows therapists to adjust therapy as needed and get a better understanding in terms of developmental progress. The real-time insights are revolutionary in a field where progress is often slow and difficult to measure.

Dr. Ross highlights the benefits:

“That's the power of that Tobii eye tracking software. It gives us a level of information and changes over time that just isn't possible when you're looking at somebody's face.”

Real-world impact

In a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, children who used the system for just six weeks showed an average 25% improvement in their ability to recognize emotions. Individual children experienced different levels of improvement. These sessions were brief—only 25 minutes, three times a week—yet the results speak for themselves.

Harry described Lookware(TM) functionality that enables parents and therapists to collect and report tangible improvements observed at home, for example, children being more engaged in face-to-face interactions. And the best part? The system is not only easy to use, but it's also fun for kids, making therapy feel like play rather than work.

Dr. Ross elaborates:

“This system does this easy, fast, beautifully and in a fun way. It's amazing, it's dynamic, it's interesting and it's modifiable. And it's just, a beautiful, elegant teaching tool that can augment therapy and give kids more access to effective teaching, which is what we need right now.”

Looking ahead

As BioStream continues to evolve, their next goal is to expand the system’s applications beyond autism social skills training. There is potential with ADHD, traumatic brain injuries, and even stroke survivors. BioStream is also working on new modules that focus not just on emotion recognition but on emotion response.

For Harry and Dr. Ross, the future is about making this technology as accessible as possible. At this point, the technology is provided to therapy centers free of charge and parents are asked to pay less than the average copay. BioStream is also developing a compassionate use program to ensure that cost is not a barrier for families in need.

As Harry said, "We’re not just throwing more buckets of water on a burning building—we’re bringing the fire hose."

Their vision is big, and their potential impact is already being felt by the families who have been hoping for new developments to help their children live well with autism. They are actively looking for partners to continue to build on their mission of making autism care accessible to more families.

“We need people with the resources and who want to be involved. You want to be involved in this? Call me. That's how open we are to using every resource that we can to get after this problem. Because somebody's got to do it.”

If you are feeling inspired and would like to get more information about BioStream,
visit their website.

Check out the full interview with Harry and Dr. Ross to hear more about their experience and insights into using eye tracking to enhance autism therapy.