| There is evidence that electronic games can | | | | that are flying toward it. This helps develop |
| help improve focus in both children and | | | | discriminatory processing and impulse |
| adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). | | | | control. |
| This software addresses the most common | | | | |
| and fundamental symptom by helping to | | | | A teacher, therapist, or coach can only |
| increase the individuals ability to retain | | | | describe what focus feels like to someone |
| focus. | | | | with ADHD. Play Attention lets the user |
| | | | experience what being attentive actually |
| Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | feels like. |
| (ADHD), is a neurobehavioral developmental | | | | |
| disorder that affects about 3-5% of the | | | | A student can even utilize the game while |
| world's population under the age of 19. This | | | | doing homework. The student would wear the |
| disorder is closely related to ADD and they | | | | helmet while doing an assignment and gauge |
| are often referred to interchangeably. This | | | | his attention level by part taking in a short |
| disorder's typical onset is during childhood. | | | | exercise in the game. |
| ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern | | | | |
| of inattention and/or hyperactivity. | | | | SmartDriver |
| Forgetfulness, poor impulse control or | | | | |
| impulsivity, and distractibility are all | | | | SmartDriver, created by Joseph Sandford, |
| characteristic of this disorder. ADHD is | | | | helps any driver, or future driver, with |
| currently considered to be a persistent and | | | | focus problems to keep his thoughts on the |
| chronic condition for which no medical cure | | | | road. The game works with or without a |
| is available. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed | | | | steering wheel for computer driving |
| in children. Diagnoses of adults with this | | | | simulators. SmartDriver is different from the |
| disorder have increased over the past decade. | | | | typical driving game as it requires patience |
| Studies show that approximately 60% of | | | | and responsibility, not a love of hairpin |
| children diagnosed with ADHD retain the | | | | turns. You must follow the rules of the road |
| condition as adults. One-fifth of all cases | | | | and heed speed limits, traffic lights, and |
| are estimated to be caused from trauma or | | | | other vehicles. SmartDriver contains enough |
| toxic exposure. Methods of treatment usually | | | | lights and sounds to keep the user |
| involve some combination of medications, | | | | interested. |
| behavior modifications, life style changes, | | | | |
| and counseling. | | | | S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames |
| | | | |
| The most common symptoms of ADHD are | | | | S.M.A.R.T BrainGames system converts any home |
| distractibility, difficulty with | | | | video or computer game into a neurofeedback |
| concentration and focus, short term memory | | | | device. Using new technology developed by |
| slippage, procrastination, problems | | | | NASA, the S.M.A.R.T. (Self Mastery and |
| organizing ideas and belongings, tardiness, | | | | Regulation Training) BrainGames system |
| impulsivity, and weak planning and execution. | | | | includes a state-of-the-art, wireless, |
| There are an incredibly large number of | | | | handheld game controller. It looks and works |
| very intelligent and capable individuals who | | | | like any other game controller, with the |
| find themselves limited by this disorder. | | | | added feature of receiving brain wave signals |
| The discovery of new methods to modify the | | | | from a headset worn by the player. The |
| behaviors affected is very exciting and | | | | headset tracks the frequency of the user's |
| inspirational. | | | | brain waves while he plays. When the player |
| | | | exhibits low-frequency patterns during, say, |
| Educational computer software is noted for | | | | a car race at the track, his car slows and |
| it's ability to engage a child and improve | | | | other cars pass him. That gets his attention, |
| various learning skills while keeping the | | | | so he concentrates, producing |
| gamer entertained. Software engineers have | | | | higher-frequency brain waves. His car then |
| created software that is specifically | | | | speeds up and results in positive |
| designed to improve attention and focus in | | | | reinforcement for his cerebral change. The |
| individuals with ADD. New learning | | | | idea is that the higher-frequency pattern |
| technology enables us to monitor and teach | | | | will continue even after kids stop playing |
| learning skills while enhancing confidence. | | | | the game. |
| I will overview three different products as | | | | |
| follows; | | | | The main difference that was found between |
| | | | S.M.A.R.T BrainGames and traditional |
| Play Attention | | | | equipment is motivation. Olafur Palsson, |
| | | | Ph.D., of Eastern Virginia Medical School in |
| Peter Freer created Play Attention, a system | | | | Richmond, a co-inventor of the NASA system |
| that enables children and adults with ADHD to | | | | stated that it was easier for parents to |
| connect their brain waves directly to a home | | | | convince children to come to his clinic when |
| computer. | | | | they knew they would be playing S.M.A.R.T |
| | | | BrainGames. It is noteworthy that the games |
| "They can actually see what's happening to | | | | that don't work well are the shoot-'em-up, |
| their brain waves as it occurs," says Freer, | | | | blood-and-guts kind, because there is poor |
| CEO of Unique Logic + Technology, the | | | | forward motion. Games that involve steady |
| Asheville, North Carolina, manufacturer of | | | | motion, like driving a car or flying an |
| the game. | | | | airplane, work best. |
| | | | |
| The user puts on a helmet embedded with | | | | There is evidence that electronic games can |
| sensors and learns to control the action on | | | | help improve focus in both children and |
| the screen with his brain waves. Focusing on | | | | adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). |
| a flying bird causes it to fly higher; | | | | This software addresses the most common |
| distraction causes the bird to fly lower. | | | | and fundamental symptom by helping to |
| Another exercise enables a person to work on | | | | increase the individuals ability to retain |
| his long-range focus by building a tower with | | | | focus. The combination of the focus building |
| moving blocks. A challenging exercise | | | | technology with games people enjoy playing |
| involves sitting at the controls of a | | | | has been successful and beneficial. |
| spaceship, deflecting the white asteroids | | | | Hopefully, we will see more to come! |