Case Study: Reactive Colours achieves breakthrough inclusion for autistic children with SMART Technologies' SMART Board

Interactive whiteboards as therapy tools

Reactive Colours (ReActivities) is a software project led by designer Wendy Keay-Bright at the Centre for Research in Art and Design, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, funded by NESTA. The challenge was to help autistic children feel more included in the classroom and provide a simple, predictable outlet for self-expression using modern educational technology.

The team created tactile, visually driven activities—kaleidoscopes, bubbles and elastic-like routines—designed to run on SMART Board interactive whiteboards so children can tap, drag or press to produce immediate, repeatable effects. Moving the prototype from laptops to SMART Boards removed motor barriers and produced strong, observable gains: higher engagement, turn-taking, communication, relaxation and a practical breakthrough in delivering therapeutic, play-based learning for children on the autism spectrum.