Wearable sensors are widely used to gather psychophysiological data in the laboratory and real-world applications. However, the accuracy of these devices should be carefully assessed. The study focused on testing the accuracy of the Empatica 4 (E4) wristband for the detection of heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) metrics in stress-inducing conditions and growing-risk driving scenarios. Fourteen healthy subjects were recruited for the experimental campaign, where HRV and EDA were recorded over six experimental conditions (Baseline, Video Clip, Scream, No-Risk Driving, Low-Risk Driving, and High-Risk Driving) and by means of two measurement systems: the E4 device and a gold standard system. The overall quality of the E4 data was investigated; agreement and reliability were assessed by performing a Bland–Altman analysis and by computing the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. HRV time-domain parameters reported high reliability levels in Baseline (r > 0.72), Video Clip (r > 0.71), and No-Risk Driving (r > 0.67), while HRV frequency domain parameters were sufficient in Baseline (r > 0.58), Video Clip (r > 0.59), No-Risk (r > 0.51), and Low-Risk Driving (r > 0.52). As for the EDA parameters, no correlation was found. Further studies could enhance the HRV and EDA quality through further optimizations of the acquisition protocol and improvement of the processing algorithms.

In recent years, the number of applications of virtual reality (VR) for the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population has increased and has become one of the most suitable tools to address the psychological needs of these individuals. The present scoping review aims to provide a literature mapping of experimental studies that have used immersive and semi-immersive VR for assessments or interventions specifically addressing high-functioning autism. A total of 23 papers were included and analyzed following PRISMA guidelines. The identified studies concerned social skills (11 papers), eye gaze and joint attention (3 papers), motor learning (3 papers), job training (2 papers), and other aims or rationales (4 papers). The evidence shows that, despite the intellectual potential of high-functioning ASD individuals, little research has been conducted to provide interventions that offer concrete training to improve their adaptive functioning. In addition, the percentage of individuals below 18 years of age is representative of half of the included studies, so aiming future studies at the early stages of development might be an asset in preparing the next generation of young adults to cope with age-related challenges, as early assessments and interventions are more likely to produce major long-term effects.

The present work describes the design, development and testing of a multimodal feedback system, named (A)MICO, with visual and acoustic feedback designed to facilitate the interaction of workers with collaborative robots (cobots) in production lines. The feedback is designed to make the human operator more aware of the cobot’s ongoing and future activities, and therefore gain more control over the situation. The ultimate goal is to obtain a new intuitive mode for transferring information through the combination of lights and sounds, not only to facilitate the flow of communication from the cobot to the operator, but also to make the interaction more accessible to neurodivergent groups, such as people with autism spectrum disorders. The design process focused on the evaluation of the human–robot interaction to select the situations where additional information is needed, and which is the best way to transfer messages as intuitively as possible. Potential end-users were actively involved during all stages of the design and development process. Five volunteers with high functioning autism participated in a preliminary co-design to identify the issues related to the interaction with the cobot and the logic of the multimodal signals. Then, to assess the system’s adaptability to several needs and the level of usability in providing information, validation tests were carried out involving a wider group of participants with ASD. The results suggest that the adoption of a multimodal communication strategy can be useful for making the workplace accessible and improving the well-being of all workers.

Several studies report that people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have low employment rates and major difficulties in maintaining occupation (Hendricks, 2010). Adopting smart and interactive technology, promoted by Industry 4.0, can be a valid solution to improve social inclusion in the workplace. The present work describes the design and development process of the multimodal device (A)MICO (acronym for 'A Multimodal device to improve inclusive Interaction between Cobot and Operator'), aimed to improve the user experience of ASD workers interacting with collaborative robots (cobots) in production lines. (A)MICO proposes a new intuitive mode of communication in which information about the cobot activity is transferred through acoustic and visual feedback. Lights and sounds are designed to make the user aware of the cobot's activity and gain control of the situation. To define the optimal feedback configuration, a co-design process has been performed involving five users with high functioning autism (HFA). The inclusion of users with HFA in the design process allows to analyse the system from different perspectives and increase the acceptance of the final product (Francis et al., 2009). In addition, (A)MICO is designed to be integrated into a pre-existing cobot system and its feedback can be customized making job tasks more human-friendly and accessible to all. To achieve this purpose, Design for All principles were taken into consideration since the preliminary stages of the study, in order to develop a device that could represent a valuable aid in improving the well-being and productivity for both neurotypical and neurodiverse users.

Objectives: To examine the emotional, cognitive and dispositional experience of children and adolescents undergoing Lokomat rehabilitation by integrating self-evaluation, therapist observations and physiological metrics across repeated sessions, with the aim of characterising how patient experience evolves throughout paediatric robot-assisted gait training. Design: Prospective observational study using a multidimensional assessment approach combining self-report, therapist ratings and physiological measures. Setting: Inpatients undergoing robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) with the Lokomat at the Scientific Institute Eugenio Medea in Bosisio Parini (Italy). Participants: 42 children and adolescents (N=42; mean age 11.66±5.59 years) undergoing RAGT. Interventions: Robot-assisted gait therapy with the Lokomat. Participants underwent 30-minute therapy sessions as per routine rehabilitation protocols, with treatment durations ranging from 15 to 20 sessions, as prescribed by their referring clinician. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Participants completed ad-hoc questionnaires about emotional, cognitive and dispositional factors before and after therapy; therapists provided structured assessments of patient engagement and psychological states. Physiological data, such as heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA), were recorded using wearable sensors to capture physiological correlates of emotional and cognitive engagement. Results: The results showed that by the end of Lokomat therapy, patients displayed increased cognitive engagement and better emotional regulation, along with higher vagal activity (normalised high-frequency) and increased phasic EDA responses. According to the therapists, patients appeared more confident, calm and cooperative. Sympathetic activation observed during satisfaction ratings reflected the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in positive emotional experiences. Conclusions: This study, therefore, emphasises a multidimensional approach to rehabilitation, which involves subjective patient self-assessments, therapist observations and physiological signals in an effort to capture a more comprehensive patient experience. The findings highlight the importance of personalised, patient-centred approaches and contribute new evidence on the psychological and physiological effects of RAGT in paediatric populations. Further research is warranted to confirm these results and explore their clinical implications. Trial registration number: NCT05767268 .

While functional electrical stimulation (FES)-cycling benefits for spinal cord injury (SCI) are documented, user acceptance and sustained engagement remain underexplored. Understanding how sport participation history and values shape FES-cycling experiences is essential for predicting technology adoption beyond rehabilitation. To explore FES-cycling user experiences within the context of participants' sport participation history, examining how sport-related values, post-injury adaptations, and existing barriers influence device acceptance and attitudes towards sustained use. Fifteen male individuals with SCI (mean age 43.9 ± 14.0 years; mean time since injury 11.2 ± 11.9 years) participated in the study, with 11 presenting complete and four incomplete SCI. They all completed a short FES-cycling training and semi-structured interviews exploring: sport experiences pre/post-injury, disability impact on participation, barriers and facilitators to sport access, FES-cycling user experience and future use perspectives. An inductive thematic analysis identified patterns across data, adopting a data-driven approach through line-by-line coding to identify emergent themes, subsequently organized within a higher-order thematic framework. Five themes emerged: (1) meanings attached to sport (competition, cooperation, escape, resilience, self-improvement); (2) post-injury sport changes (physical/psychological adaptations, renewed appreciation); (3) sport access (barriers: cost, infrastructure, time; facilitators: organizations, policies); (4) FES-cycling experience (physical/emotional benefits, frustrations); and (5) future perspectives (opportunities, limitations). Sport-related values directly shaped how participants evaluated FES-cycling capabilities and practical viability. FES-cycling acceptance depends on whether the device aligns with users' sport-related values and addresses their existing barriers to participation. Realistic implementation, supported by dialogue with participants about limitations and challenges, can help bridge the gap between rehabilitation and sustained engagement in physical activity.