Arrow is an Israeli startup founded by Eran Dvir in Tel Aviv, and since its inception it has been working on the development of Skill Coach, an app designed for training in different social situations for users with autism. The platform works as a rehearsal for conversations that can be challenging, such as meeting strangers or establishing different types of contact in the workplace.
According to psychologist Jana Rundle, people with autism are three times more likely to have episodes of depression. And in many cases this may have to do with difficulty in social interactions, which can also lead them to suffer from anxiety.
In Skill Couch, the user interacts with a avatar developed with AI. Each meeting is different, and aims at a specific objective. It is not just a conversational practice. The avatar records “problems” in the conversation, and provides the user with practical advice and explanations to improve in real time.
The platform software is based on visual feedback, through which simple instructions are given to the user. This system was designed by an Israeli psychologist who is an expert in autism.