Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: Catwell
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 503 views
  • Likes 1 like
  • Comments 2 comments
Related
Recommended

SOF soldiers train with brain game from CogniSens

Catwell

image

Cognisens concept diagram (via Cognisens)

 

SOF (Special Operations Forces) soldiers go through some pretty tough unending training to get their bodies into super-athlete condition to be able to handle the missions they’re tasked. However, it’s more of a matter of ‘mind’ than it is physical, as they need to be able to react to the environment around them.

 

Reconnaissance and FID (Foreign Internal Defense) plays a big part in the community , and that takes quite a bit of intelligence. To keep the mind sharp the SOF community employs a wide range of techniques and tools such as SOCOM’s (US, Special Operations Command) recent implementation of Cognisens NueroTracker. The system was actually designed for professional sports players to increase situational awareness and decreasing response time during game play. To do this Cognisens designed the system as a 3D environment where the participant wears 3D glasses to view 8 targets and has to track 4 designated targets for a period of 8 minutes.

 

It’s easier said than done as the series of targets increase over the period of sessions. This process becomes harder over time with 8 different gameplay difficulties with ‘Overload’ being the hardest level and ‘Challenger’ mode that pits two players against each other. The company states that just as lifting weights develops increased muscle capacity, NueroTracker ‘re-wires’ the part of the brain uses for memory and increases its performance. SOCOM says that this is the perfect tool in giving commandos the ability to track multiple targets with reduced response time and the ability to predict movement. While it doesn’t seem like the harsh, rigorous, training most operators go through, any tool that improves ability is certainly beneficial.

 

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • in reply to DAB

    I think we all could use a little spatial training, now that you point it out. Like crane operators, many in construction have to be cognisant of the environment around them.

    For those who do not know, connecting construction I-beams is a nightmare. Everything happens quickly and all around the worker.

     

    E

  • I can see many uses for this type of training.  Creating that internal 3D spatial awareness is useful in a number of dangerous work environments.  As with the SOF, your responses must be intuitive and instant to respond to new conditions and information.

     

    Developing that inner 3D awareness is very difficult to do.  From my observations, some people have the ability to quickly grasp and use the spatial information and others just do not.  Pilot training is a good example.  They wash a lot of good people out of the program because they cannot adjust their perceptions to 3D.

     

    I have also seen some of the mega-crane operators ply their crane loading and unloading cargo containers.  They could not maintain their proficiency without a well developed sense of 3D perception.

     

    It would be interesting to see their success rate.  It could reveal some interesting population demagraphics.

     

    Neat post,

    DAB