| There is evidence that electronic games can help | | | | flying toward it. This helps develop discriminatory |
| improve focus in both children and adults with | | | | processing and impulse control. |
| Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This software | | | | A teacher, therapist, or coach can only describe |
| addresses the most common and fundamental | | | | what focus feels like to someone with ADHD. Play |
| symptom by helping to increase the individuals | | | | Attention lets the user experience what being |
| ability to retain focus. | | | | attentive actually feels like. |
| Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is | | | | A student can even utilize the game while doing |
| a neurobehavioral developmental disorderthat | | | | homework. The student would wear the helmet |
| affects about 3-5% of the world's population | | | | while doing an assignment and gauge his attention |
| under the age of 19. This disorder is closely | | | | level by part taking in a short exercise in the |
| related to ADD and they are often referred to | | | | game. |
| interchangeably. This disorder's typical onset is | | | | SmartDriver |
| during childhood. ADHD is characterized by a | | | | SmartDriver, created by Joseph Sandford, helps |
| persistent pattern of inattention and/or | | | | any driver, or future driver, with focus problems |
| hyperactivity. Forgetfulness, poor impulse control | | | | to keep his thoughts on the road. The game |
| or impulsivity, and distractibility are all characteristic | | | | works with or without a steering wheel for |
| of this disorder. ADHD is currently considered to | | | | computer driving simulators. SmartDriver is |
| be a persistent and chronic condition for which no | | | | different from the typical driving game as it |
| medical cure is available. ADHD is most commonly | | | | requires patience and responsibility, not a love of |
| diagnosed in children. Diagnoses of adults with this | | | | hairpin turns. You must follow the rules of the |
| disorder have increased over the past decade. | | | | road and heed speed limits, traffic lights, and |
| Studies show that approximately 60% of children | | | | other vehicles. SmartDriver contains enough lights |
| diagnosed with ADHD retain the condition as | | | | and sounds to keep the user interested. |
| adults.One-fifth of all cases are estimated to be | | | | S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames |
| caused from trauma or toxic exposure. Methods | | | | S.M.A.R.T BrainGames system converts any home |
| of treatment usually involve some combination of | | | | video or computer game into a neurofeedback |
| medications, behavior modifications, life style | | | | device. Using new technology developed by |
| changes, and counseling. | | | | NASA, the S.M.A.R.T. (Self Mastery and Regulation |
| The most common symptoms of ADHD are | | | | Training) BrainGames system includes a |
| distractibility, difficulty with concentration and | | | | state-of-the-art, wireless, handheld game |
| focus, short term memory slippage, | | | | controller. It looks and works like any other game |
| procrastination, problems organizing ideas and | | | | controller, with the added feature of receiving |
| belongings, tardiness, impulsivity, and weak | | | | brain wave signals from a headset worn by the |
| planning and execution. There are an incredibly | | | | player. The headset tracks the frequency of the |
| large number of very intelligent and capable | | | | user's brain waves while he plays. When the |
| individuals who find themselves limited by this | | | | player exhibits low-frequency patterns during, say, |
| disorder. The discovery of new methods to | | | | a car race at the track, his car slows and other |
| modify the behaviors affected is very exciting | | | | cars pass him. That gets his attention, so he |
| and inspirational. | | | | concentrates, producing higher-frequency brain |
| Educational computer software is noted for it's | | | | waves. His car then speeds up and results in |
| ability to engage a child and improve various | | | | positive reinforcement for his cerebral change. |
| learning skills while keeping the gamer entertained. | | | | The idea is that the higher-frequency pattern will |
| Software engineers have created software that | | | | continue even after kids stop playing the game. |
| is specifically designed to improve attention and | | | | The main difference that was found between |
| focus in individuals with ADD. New learning | | | | S.M.A.R.T BrainGames and traditional equipment is |
| technology enables us to monitor and teach | | | | motivation. Olafur Palsson, Ph.D., of Eastern Virginia |
| learning skills while enhancing confidence. I will | | | | Medical School in Richmond, a co-inventor of the |
| overview three different products as follows; | | | | NASA system stated that it was easier for |
| Play Attention | | | | parents to convince children to come to his clinic |
| Peter Freer created Play Attention, a system that | | | | when they knew they would be playing S.M.A.R.T |
| enables children and adults with ADHD to connect | | | | BrainGames. It is noteworthy that the games that |
| their brain waves directly to a home computer. | | | | don't work well are the shoot-'em-up, |
| "They can actually see what's happening to their | | | | blood-and-guts kind, because there is poor |
| brain waves as it occurs," says Freer, CEO of | | | | forward motion. Games that involve steady |
| Unique Logic %2B Technology, the Asheville, | | | | motion, like driving a car or flying an airplane, work |
| North Carolina, manufacturer of the game. | | | | best. |
| The user puts on a helmet embedded with | | | | There is evidence that electronic games can help |
| sensors and learns to control the action on the | | | | improve focus in both children and adults with |
| screen with his brain waves. Focusing on a flying | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This software |
| bird causes it to fly higher; distraction causes the | | | | addresses the most common and fundamental |
| bird to fly lower. Another exercise enables a | | | | symptom by helping to increase the individuals |
| person to work on his long-range focus by building | | | | ability to retain focus. The combination of the |
| a tower with moving blocks. A challenging | | | | focus building technology with games people enjoy |
| exercise involves sitting at the controls of a | | | | playing has been successful and beneficial. |
| spaceship, deflecting the white asteroids that are | | | | Hopefully, we will see more to come! |