A PEN that reads more than handwriting is at the center of a UST-led research effort to detect early signs of autism, cognitive load and other developmental concerns among Filipino children and underserved learners.
Backed by a National Research Council of the Philippines’ Young Scientist Research Grant, the project combines artificial intelligence, sensor-based technology and handwriting analysis to make developmental assessment more accessible and culturally responsive.
Called “iSULAT,” or Intelligent Stroke Utilization, Learning, Assessment, and Testing, the innovation was developed through a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
The AI-powered smart pen is designed to help detect neurodevelopmental conditions early through handwriting assessment by analyzing movement, pressure and writing patterns that may reveal neurological or developmental irregularities.
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Engineers Joseph Den Amores and Antonio Miguel Frias are among the researchers supported by the Young Scientist Incentive Program through funding, mentorship and research resources for the continued development of iSULAT.
The team’s work involves incorporating gamified technology into the system while measuring cognitive load to determine how it affects handwriting performance.
“Nakita namin na [madaling] mawala ang attention ng mga bata dahil tatlong handwriting assessments ang pinapagawa sa kanila, kaya sa pamamagitan ng gamification gusto naming mas ma-engage sila,” Amores told the Varsitarian.
The researchers used AI to analyze patterns in the large volume of data gathered during assessments, particularly those that cannot be easily interpreted through manual observation alone.
Beyond handwriting analysis, the team is exploring a vision-based system that could assess sensory processing difficulties among children with autism spectrum disorder by tracking how they respond to visual stimuli in their environment.
“[Makikita namin] kung paano sila nagre-react sa mga paligid nila. Kunwari masyadong bright ang color, masyado ba silang na-a-attach doon, masyado ba silang naiinis o hindi,” Frias said.
For Amores, the project addresses the lack of localized developmental assessment tools in the Philippines.
Most handwriting assessments used in the country are Western and based on foreign data sets, which researchers said might not fully reflect the experiences and behavioral patterns of Filipino children.
“Mas magiging valid ‘yong data and reliable ‘yong data within the Philippine context and magiging fair ‘yong assessment since ‘yong database nga is gawa sa mga Filipino children,” he said.
The researchers said early identification through the sensor-based pen could help children receive intervention sooner, especially in underserved areas where access to specialists remains limited.
“Kapag nakitaan namin ng early onset ng symptoms ng autism ‘yong bata using handwriting, maipapadala natin sila sa mga developmental pediatrician para ma-assess ‘yung bata at ma-confirm kung meron o wala silang autism,” Frias said.
Access to specialists remains a challenge, with appointments with developmental pediatricians often taking about three months because of the limited number of practitioners in the country.
Amores said his involvement in the project stemmed from volunteer work in indigenous communities while assisting his thesis adviser, Assoc. Prof. Edison Roxas, chair of the Electronics Engineering department, during iSULAT’s early development.
“Through Simbahayan, napunta po kami sa Porac, Pampanga, at nagvo-volunteer po ako roon dati. Doon po ako na-inspire na kumuha ng graduate studies para maipagpatuloy ang research ng iSULAT sa indigenous communities,” he said.
Frias encountered the project while working on his undergraduate biomedical engineering thesis on patellofemoral pain syndrome.
On March 18, the tandem won the Executive Director’s Choice Award and placed third overall in Category 1 funded projects for their automation entry in the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s “Capture the Heart in Health Research” photo essay contest.
The iSULAT project was conceptualized before the Covid-19 pandemic and is spearheaded by Roxas. It previously received P3.2 million in funding from the DOST-PCHRD.
The award from the Department of Science and Technology–National Research Council of the Philippines was granted last February.
