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Non-speaking autistic individuals grapple with the profound impact of the ‘double empathy problem’ in their daily interactions with speaking others. This study rethinks the communication challenges faced by non-speaking autistic individuals, challenging traditional approaches that predominantly focus on speech and complex communication devices (AAC). By spotlighting the natural phenomenon of “interactive stimming,” a powerful mode of communication among autistic individuals, this study advocates for a shift from a conventional emphasis on speech towards the foundational role of the body in autistic communication. Central to this exploration is the introduction of the Magical Musical Mat (MMM), an innovative interactive environment mapping interpersonal touch to musical sounds. Through a robust mixed-methods approach integrating video-based fieldwork and design-based research, this paper engages three non-speaking autistic children and their mothers in a 5-day empirical intervention. Results reveal significant transformations in parent–child interactions as both parents and children are acquainted with touch in a new environment. Children assert their autonomy, exploring at their own pace, and discovering sensory features of the environment. Notably, the introduction of sound prompts heightened awareness of the stims, leading to diversified and expressive stim movements. Foregrounding interpersonal touch eventually guides parents into their children’s sensory activities where parents attune to the stims of their children by joining in and facilitating their expressiveness, co-creating extended, evolving patterns of repetitive cycles. The collaborative stim cycles can be likened to free improvisation, where dynamical coherence between individuals occurs through a blend of stability and active flexibility. By shifting the focus from speech to co-created sensory experiences, this paper sheds light on the value of transformative multisensory environments, envisioning a world where varied modes of communication are valued and embraced.

The development of educational-recreational complexes for children has a significant impact on their cognitive growth and behaviour. Proper site selection is essential to ensure the success of such projects. This paper aims to identify the best location for a children’s educational-recreational complex in Shiraz, Iran. The study used a descriptive-comparative and survey method to determine effective criteria for site selection. A questionnaire was administered to experts in architecture, urban design, and planning to identify appropriate sites. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was then employed to select the best location. The hierarchical model included three levels: goal (educational-recreational site selection), criteria (natural potential, accessibility, land size, neighbourhood and social context, expansibility, appropriate land use (the neighbourhood between proposed and master plan land use)), and three alternative sites. The results showed that a site located near residential areas, green spaces, and natural elements is suitable for the development of an educational-recreational complex for children. The study recommends the use of the SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) - AHP method for site selection in children’s complexes. The paper highlights the need for a reliability test or table/figure to support the research findings.

Gamification has become a prevalent approach for appealing users and encouraging desired behaviours in many fields, comprising marketing, education, banking, healthcare, and numerous other fields. This paper explores in what way integrating gamified elements, such as Points, Badges, Rewards, Challenges, Leaderboards, and Interactive Activities, impacts the online shopping experience for buyers. This study investigates the influence of gamification on the buying intention of the buyers adopting online shopping. It examines the role of perceived ease of use, social interaction, perceived utility and perceived enjoyment in impacting buyers’ intention in online buying. The findings of this study intend to provide a valuable insight for e-commerce firms and sellers, aiding them to design and enhance online shopping platforms personalized to the inclinations of consumers. Finally, this study contributes to the wider understanding of consumer behaviour in the digital era and highlights approaches that can enhance the online shopping experience for buyers, nurturing customer engagement, and growth of the business.

Abstract Background and objectives Aging poses a significant challenge worldwide, with China’s aging status becoming particularly severe. What is the impact of Internet use on the health of the elderly? Existing studies have drawn conflicting conclusions that Internet use improves or harms health. The purpose of this study was to explore how Internet use affects the health of older adults, and the mechanisms and heterogeneity of these effects. Research design and methods Based on Grossman’s theory, this paper constructs a health production function model. Using the data of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2014 to 2020, we investigated the impact of Internet use on the health of older adults using fixed effect model and instrumental variable method. We also examined the mediating role of health information acquisition, lifestyle, and social interaction in these associations. Results Internet use is positively associated with self-rated health and negatively associated with psychological sub-health level. Internet use promotes the health of older adults by facilitating access to health information, healthy lifestyles, and enhancing social interaction. And the impacts are heterogeneous at the individual and regional levels. Discussion and implications We should progressively enhance the level of internet accessibility for older adults, while concurrently addressing and narrowing the ‘digital divide’. By generating an abundance of superior health-related information, we can significantly improve health education tailored for the elderly. Additionally, it is crucial to offer extensive training opportunities designed to equip older adults with the necessary skills to proficiently navigate the internet.

Objectives: Loneliness and physical inactivity are serious public health issues that often co-occur. However, they are often treated separately. Our systematic review aimed to identify components of interventions that most effectively improve physical inactivity and/or loneliness and whether/how these two variables are related. Specifically, we tested the following questions: 1) whether interventions focused on physical inactivity alleviate loneliness; 2) whether interventions focused on loneliness increase physical activity; 3) whether interventions that target broader levels of physical and mental well-being improve both loneliness and physical activity. We further examined 4) common intervention components that influenced loneliness and/or physical activity, with a particular focus on social components of each intervention. Methods: We searched for peer-reviewed journal articles published before May 22nd, 2022 in PubMed Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and Embase. Both quantitative and qualitative studies that investigated the effects of interventions on physical activity and/or loneliness were included for review. Risk of bias was assessed for each study. Results: We identified 34 papers, including 27 studies examining the effects of physical activity interventions, one study explicitly targeting loneliness, and six studies targeting broader subjective well-being. Studies showed mixed results and a high heterogeneity in intervention design and sample characteristics. Overall, we found group exercise, individualized consultation and education on physical activity, and social support-building during physical activity (vs. other social activities) as promising intervention components that were frequently associated with improvements in physical activity and loneliness. Conclusion: This review highlights that interventions targeting physical activity can also alleviate loneliness. Improved social experiences from such interventions may explain this hidden benefit. Limited data were available to conclusively answer whether physical activity and loneliness bi-directionally influence each other. More research is needed to systematically test the impact of different social components built into physical activity interventions on loneliness.