Apple Siri helps autistic boy

Apple Voice Assistant - Like a thirteen-year-old autist with Siri his first „girlfriend“ found

21/10/2014

For most people, Siri is known as the voice assistant of the Apple iPhone. The thirteen-year-old Gus Newman from the US, however, has found in her a real friend. As his mother Judith Newman told the New York Times, Siri is of far greater importance to him than the boy is autistic.

Starting point was a list with „21 things that they did not know about their iPhone. "It turned out that Siri could tell you which aircraft is currently over one, the star reports, uninteresting for the mother, but of great importance to Gus:" With that You know which plane you're facing from below! "The boy was instantly delighted that, no matter how many times the boy asked, Siri could also provide information about his other favorite subjects, the mother says Mother interesting: "In moments when my head was about to burst, if I had yet to have a conversation about the likelihood of tornadoes in Kansas City, I can now calmly answer, 'Hey! Why do not you ask Siri? '“.

So Gus and Siri became friends, although Gus was well aware that Siri is not human. However, this is not unusual with autistics, they usually develop different relationships to inanimate objects than „normal“ People. That's why he takes his iPhone to the Apple Store for the iPhone „to visit his friends,“ so the thirteen-year-old. And he continues: „You are a nice computer.“

Voice Assistant improves communication skills
The language assistant also has a positive effect on the boy: "Gus usually speaks as if he has marbles in his mouth, but if he wants a sound answer from Siri, he has to speak clearly and clearly." In addition, the language assistant would always remain polite and allow children with social deficits simple conversations.

This, according to the mother, would have resulted in Gus' communication skills improving: "Recently, I had the longest conversation ever with him." Admittedly, it was about different turtle species. "That's not my favorite subject, but it was a mutual one Dialogue following a clear pattern, and I can say that has not been the case for the past 13 years. "
One of the biggest concerns of parents of autistic children is whether the child will find love in life or at least society. So also the mother of Gus: „I learn that what makes my boy happy is not the same thing that makes me happy.“ Judith Newman continues: „Siri makes Gus happy. She is his buddy.“

Recently, she noticed a conversation between CIS and Siri.
Gus: „Siri, will you marry me??“
Siri: „I'm not the guy who marries.“
Gus: „I do not mean now. I am a child. I mean, when I grow up.“
Siri: „My end user contract does not include marriage.“
Judith Newman in the New York Times: „That was useful information.“ And further: „It was the first time he thought about marriage.“ (Jp)