Kids with autism have trouble listening and responding.

But new technology could soon help them make connections in the real world.
Ten-year-old Charles, who has autism, is happy to tell you a story by himself.

"The window was open, and oh! My goodness."

But when asked to collaborate with another child on a story, he doesn't have much to say. Justine Cassell of Northwestern University explains one theory about why that is.

“These children are not able to conceive of another person having a perspective on the world that's different from their own."

To address that deficit, Cassel has created a life-sized virtual pal named Sam. Sam helps autistic kids practice the back-and-forth exchange of conversation-- a skill that's essential for making social connections and learning in the classroom.

"Let’s tell a story together."
"Ok."

This clever interface lets researcher Andrea Tartaro play "Wizard of Oz" behind the curtain. Sam's verbal and non-verbal responses were developed from years of studying how kids naturally play together. And since Charles, like many autistic children, likes technology, the researchers give him a turn at the controls. Cassell hopes Sam can be a bridge to the real world.

"We see virtual children as an intermediate step between social isolation and living in a social community with other children."
Charles' dad is excited by the results.

“first thing Charlie said when he came in to see me is; 'I have a new virtual friend, daddy! You know, we told stories together.' Just that being comfortable is wonderful."

Cassell says this kind of connection is essential-- not just for socializing, but also for learning math, science, and literature
Researchers think one day collaborative storytelling could be accessible to any autistic child with access to a computer.