By objectively and child-friendly capturing these behaviours, DANS aims to contribute to better and faster decision-making in the early screening, assessment and intervention of toe walking and autism-related characteristics.

An important research question is how the smart sock can measure these behaviours in an environment that closely resembles the daily lives of young children. The study therefore investigated how the technology performs in a simulated home environment with children aged 1.5 to 4 years with autism.

HomeLab provided an ideal setting for this research as it forms an important bridge between a highly standardised laboratory environment and the complexity of the home setting. Its home-like living room, equipped with integrated camera systems and motion tracking, allowed us to observe children's behaviour and movements in a more natural context. The outdoor area and garden were an additional asset, enabling us to explore how the smart sock performs in a more everyday setting, including when children were wearing shoes.

HomeLab also offered a comfortable environment for families participating in the study. Parents particularly appreciated the easy parking, calm interior, natural light and home-like atmosphere, as well as the green outdoor space. The children also appeared more at ease in this environment compared with a traditional clinical laboratory setting.

HomeLab demonstrates how innovative technologies can be studied in an environment that is both realistic and controlled, an important step towards developing research and applications that fit more closely with the everyday lives of children and their families.