From Passive to Proactive: Designing an Engaging VR Hand Coordination Training System for Children with Autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face sensory and attentional challenges that affect their engagement in fine-motor training. This study investigates a VR-based hand coordination system designed using human-centered principles, integrating VR headset configuration with haptic gloves to offer customizable visual, auditory, and tactile feedback and structured task progression. In a controlled study with 60 children with ASD aged 6–12, the VR condition showed greater improvements in hand coordination accuracy and longer training engagement compared to conventional practice. Qualitative feedback from children, caregivers, and therapists further indicated that the clarity of goals, predictable feedback, and manageable interaction demands supported participation for many children, while also revealing individual differences in tolerance for pacing and sensory complexity. The findings suggest that structured interaction design can support fine-motor practice when VR interactions match users’ regulatory needs. Future work will examine how adaptive pacing and context-sensitive cues can better support skill use beyond the training environment.