Arlen Ward dot com

The previous post on engineering and autisim was oringinally written for a different blog a year ago when the IEEE article first came out.

What reminded me to post it here was a YouTube video of Steven Wiltshire, an architectural artist from the UK. He was diagnosed with autism at age 3, and has been drawing architechture since age 11, when he recreated the London skyline from memory after a helicopter ride.

In the video, this ability is demonstrated by taking him to Rome, flying him around for 45 minutes, and then giving him three days to recreate the skyline. All without additional reference, based solely on his recollection.

Here is the panorama that he drew over the three days.

There is a lot we have yet to learn about how the brain works.

Last year, an issue of IEEE spectrum had an interesting short article on Engineers and Autism This was particularly interesting in light of the fact that my wife is also an engineer, and we have seen definite signs of systemizing in our son as he plays. Very methodical little bugger, who spends a fair amount of his play time organizing his toys.

The process seems interesting as well:

1. Certain career areas attract specific types of personalities
   
2. Acceptance of both genders into more career areas lead to male and females of similar personality types spending time together
   
3. The genetic predisposition for that personalty type is amplified in their offspring
   
4. Personality traits taken to extremes lead to disorders
   

Doomed. My kids are both doomed.

Actually, the youngest is probably really good for him. She doesn’t seem to play into his “systemizing” at all.

In 4m 19s

Click here to Play

I would have done better, but apparently I can’t spell Massachusetts or Connecticut.

It is a bit of a cop out that you don’t have to place them on the map too.