DYNAMIC VISUAL ACUITY TRAINING METHOD AND APPARATUS

An apparatus and method for improving physical coordination and ability to react to moving and stationary objects is disclosed herein. A pair of voltage controlled liquid crystal lenses (14, 16) are mounted in a support frame (12) which is worn by a user in the same manner as conventional eyeglasses. The lenses (14, 16) can be electronically pulsed between an opaque state and a transparent state. Further, the lenses (14, 16) scatter background light in their opaque state rather than block the light so as to provide a generally constant level of contrast and brightness. This prevents pupil dilation changes when switching between the transparent state and the opaque state. Each lens can be made to pulse from an opaque state to a transparent state and then back again, and can be controlled independently or in synchronization. In operation, the user adjusts the control unit (18) to pulse the lenses (14, 16) at a high speed. An object is then viewed through the lenses and an appropriate response is made. As the user's proficiency increases, the user decreases the pulse rate and continues to react to the object. Reduction in pulse rate is continued until the desired level of reaction proficiency is achieved. When the apparatus is eventually removed, the user will be able to react to objects moving at higher speeds with greater proficiency. Additionally, in the case of both moving and stationary objects, the user's ability to concentrate will be increased.