How A Minecraft World Has Built A Safe Online Playground For Autistic Kids

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In the process, they may be demonstrating the kind of filtered, structured environment in which more and more socialisation will occur as online and offline worlds collide.



I was able to learn more from members of the Autcraft community through my research. I found they use a combination of modifying the software of Minecraft itself (called "modding") and social structure or rules.



Autcraft uses Minecraft to do four key things for autistic children: it gives them structure, creates a safe social space, lets them filter their experience in various ways, and helps them unleash their imaginations.



A well-structured playground



The Minecraft game world is structured to begin with, as the game contains boundaries and rules that players must follow. Autcraft uses additional software plug-ins to make it easier for younger players.



Players can, for example, mark their own plots of land so they and a few friends can build there. This prevents others from changing their houses or creating other things without permission.



Autcraft has a social structure in addition to its "physical" structure. This is in the form of rules that all members must follow and norms around friendliness as well as helpingness. minecraft These norms are embedded in the game through tools like community chests, where players can leave items they don't need for others.



Autcraft uses the game world of Minecraft as a safe social space. After school, children often play with their friends in Minecraft. Often, these friends are only available through the game and not the real world. Hanging out in Minecraft looks like hanging out in the playground. Some children build, others play hide-and-seek, and some just hang out and talk via text chat.



Filtered interactions



Minecraft, as a game, filters and simplifies things in ways that can be helpful for autistic players. The characters are crude representations of human beings. They have no facial expressions or body language. Communication is done via text or character movements (such a jumping around or giving out items).



Although text chat can be overwhelming for researchers like me, it's still a filter of human interaction that makes socializing less stressful for autistic youth.



Autism sufferers often need to adjust their sensory intake in order to meet their needs. Volume and brightness can easily be adjusted in Minecraft, and players also vary their sensory intake by moving their characters around. I witnessed one player place their character underground, to create a small visual sensory break.



Autcraft also designed virtual sensory rooms that provide a variety sensory inputs and moods. These include a bright multicolored room with webs for texture, a tranquil garden, and rooms where the door closes for darkness.



For many players, it is equally important to let loose their imaginations.



Autcraft had buildings that looked like giant pink ponies and statues of people as large as buildings. There was also Doctor Who'sTARDIS. Community members could work independently, but also collaborated to create teams to accomplish building objectives.



I interviewed autistic youth who wanted to be leaders and help their friends build large castles and villages. This is a huge deal for children who have trouble communicating, making friends, learning in a classroom environment, and communicating.



The shape of things to come?



Minecraft is much like a playground in the physical world. This allows for deeper involvement for the player and deeper learning.



This is especially true for the autistic youth of Autcraft, who use the accessible interface of Minecraft to help support their social play-without some of the barriers that can make offline play difficult for them.



As physical and virtual spaces blend together, filtered ways of socializing and interacting will become a norm for everyone. It is possible to expect that the distinction between "virtual", "real" and "real" life will be further blurred. Worlds like Autcraft will become a normal part of everyday life. Explore further



This article is republished under Creative Commons license from The Conversation. Read the original article.