The same technology initially developed to train Israeli fighter pilots is now being used to improve the skills of basketball players.
Basketball IntelliGym is a computer program that looks and plays like a video game. Its maker, Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) of Studio City, CA, however, said it was actually a sophisticated training system.
After being tested on players of all levels and age groups, ACE claims that with 30 minutes once or twice a week, for only a few weeks, the program will provide a substantial improvement in skills such as real-time decision making, anticipation, concentration, attention span, team play, fast response time and court sense.
ACE said thousands of basketball players worldwide and players on more than a dozen college basketball teams have already used the software. It was an integral part of the training regimen for both Long Beach State and Purdue, two basketball teams earning their first NCAA tournament chances since 1995 and 2003, respectively.
The system is designed to strengthen the brain, in a similar way that a weight room builds muscles. What it means to players is more assists, blocks and steals, less turnovers and better shot selection, the company said.
For more information, visit www.IntelliGym.com.
