Calling all Students! Interested in communication solutions? Want to apply design-thinking to better utilize technologies? Ever hoped to have Yves Behar (fuseproject), Lisa Strausfeld (Pentagram), Richard Seymour (Seymourpowell) or our own Allan Chochinov (Core77) look at your work?

The "Autism Connects" technology and design competition challenges students to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to better connect with the world around them, and allow individuals who do not have ASD to better understand and connect with those who do. Even NFL Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino is getting into the cause! Help create real-world solutions for individuals with ASD and win $5000 in this international student competition! In addition, Autism Speaks will award creators (or one representative in the case of a team entry) of the top three designs a $1,000 stipend and registration fees to attend the 2011 International Meeting for Autism Research, to be held May 12 to 14, 2011 in San Diego, CA, where they will be invited to present their design concept. Get full contest info here or check out the brief after the jump.BACKGROUND At some point in our lives, each of us will likely meet a person on the autism spectrum, or know someone who is touched by this complex condition. ASDs are prevalent worldwide, affecting nearly 1 percent of the population and 1 out of 70 boys. Although individuals on the autism spectrum vary enormously, in most instances difficulties in communication skills are one of the core challenges faced by those living with autism today. These difficulties can cover a wide spectrum, ranging from individuals with little to no speech, to those who may be fluid verbally yet have difficulty reading other people's intentions and emotions or understanding use of abstract language such as metaphors and analogies.

TASK DEFINITION Designers are invited to produce new and innovative technology-based solutions to assist individuals with ASD in their communications with others and, in doing so, to increase the public's understanding of this unique and growing population. Design solutions should focus on improving communication on any of a number of levels: between individuals, within and between communities and their members, and among individuals without ASD so they can connect better with individuals who do.

Think creatively! Although designers may choose to explore web-based, tablet-based, mobile software or hardware solutions, technology-based solutions are not restricted to electrically- powered devices, and may include low-tech, innovative design solutions. Entries may be design concepts or fully realized solutions.