Featured Technology: KIHd System
Images: KIHd System
Credit: Keller Institute of Human Disabilities
Overview
The KIHd System is a multi-platform, browser-based, real time, mobile, collaborative, observable data collection and analysis tool. The KIHd System charts and produces graphs in real time and can be used on various data types. The KIHd System was developed based on four-years of rigorous collaborative research at the Keller Institute of Human Disabilities at Mason with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Education, and the Stepping Stones Grant.
Technological Description
Ongoing research clearly shows that the KIHd System has immense potential in demonstrating effectiveness of reliable data collection on students with autism. Technological applications such as the KIHd System provide the tools necessary for data collection and analysis quickly and accurately. This technology is a big leap forward and a ‘cause for celebration’ in providing a much needed assistance to special educators and policy makers who are looking for ways to improve and fasten the intervention process especially for children diagnosed with autism.
Market Significance
One in 150 (CDC, 2007) cases of autism will be diagnosed this year and according to the Autism Society of America (n.d.), autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability with a 10-17% annual growth rate. The KIHd System is based upon the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and precision teaching, methodologies that are documented to have been proven to be effective for students with autism. Given the magnitude of the problem, technological applications, such as the KIHd System, provide the tools necessary for data collection and analysis quickly and accurately. That the problem is urgent is reflected in the current Department of Education budget plan, which calls for an expenditure of $11.5 billion for Special Education programs to include support for programs to improve educational and early intervention outcomes for children with disabilities. Of the $11.5 billion, $189.4 million would specifically support Special Education National Activities including a variety of technical assistance, dissemination, training, and other activities that assist States, local educational agencies, parents, and others in improving results for children with disabilities.
The KIHd System is easy to implement, has a highly adaptable label system, can be used on multi-platforms, and measures real time data with a variety of data types. A possible competitor used in the psychology field, the Observer, is quite complex, does not permit adaptations and is a closed system. Because of the complexity, it would be difficult to introduce this system to the world of teachers who are already challenged with severe time constraints. The pricing for the Observer is created for each institution. Another possible competitor, mTrial, is only implemented on the Palm and measures only synchronized frequency data. The mTrial sells for $99.00. The DT Trainer is only for those students who are two-nine years of age. The content is fixed and the curriculum is unchangeable. The DT Trainer sells for $99.00 for a home version and $249.00 per classroom with a yearly support fee of $99.00. Due to the simplified nature and the different types of data able to be collected, the KIHd System appeals to a much wider audience, is significantly easier to implement and while maintaining a comparable or less expensive cost.
If you’re interested in commercial opportunities for this technology, please contact David Grossman, Assistant Director, of George Mason University’s Office of Technology Transfer at (703) 993-4103. Mr. Grossman's e-mail address is dgrossma@gmu.edu.