Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, communication abilities, and repetitive behavior. With the development of technology, virtual reality (VR) technology has brought new possibilities for treating autism. This study aims to explore the positive impact of VIRTOOLS distributed virtual reality technology on autism patients from a sociopsychological perspective.

This study comprised a cohort of 80 patients diagnosed with autism, with ages ranging from 6 to 18 years. A six-month structured training program was implemented utilizing a distributed virtual reality (VR) application developed using VIRTOOLS. The program encompassed simulated training for social interaction, emotion recognition, and fundamental daily life skills. To evaluate the effectiveness, pre- and post-training comparisons were made using standardized autism assessment tools and social interaction assessments. The data generated from the experiment were subjected to statistical analysis employing SPSS 24.0.

Compared with before training, the study subjects showed significant improvements in social interaction, emotional recognition, and daily life skills after training (P<0.01). Among them, 70% of participants’ social skills improved, and 60% performed more accurately in emotion recognition tasks.

From the perspective of social psychology, utilizing VIRTOOLS-based distributed VR technology provides a safe and controlled environment for patients with autism, helping them improve their social interaction and communication skills. This technology offers a promising new approach to treating and rehabilitating patients with autism.

Targeted Talents Training Project (No. 20230106722).