People with autism are known for unknowingly dominating conversations. But what if they could visualize conversations in real time in the hope of learning to balance the dialogue?

A new approach allows people’s speech to appear as a computer-generated image projected on a table before them in a color coded format. Each person in the conversation wears a microphone and is assigned a color. Then, as the group talks the colors expand or overlap to indicate who is talking, how loud the conversation is and whether or not people are interrupting each other, among other features of the conversation.

The device called a “conversation clock” is like a social mirror, allowing people to see their actions in real time. It will be tested on people with Asperger’s syndrome this summer in Maryland. Previous tests with other populations suggest that people try to balance their conversations when using the clock, reports Reuters. To read more click here.

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