Socially aware computers may help autistic

SOCIALLY aware computers could soon be used to help people with autism and attention deficit disorder, thanks to research by a city scientist.

Tim Smith, a 30-year-old cognitive scientist from Edinburgh, has been selected to front a national campaign to raise awareness of the impact science and engineering have on our everyday lives.

Mr Smith is currently a post-doctoral research associate at the School of Psychology, Philosophy, and Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.

He is researching how humans perceive the visual world and his findings could be used to help people with autism and attention deficit disorder and develop technological aids such as socially aware computers and social virtual environments.

He will be showcasing his research as part of an initiative led by New Outlooks in Science & Engineering (NOISE).

He said: "I have always been passionate about science and am thrilled to have been appointed as a NOISEmaker."

His progress with NOISE will be chronicled in a blog on the website www.noisemakers.org.uk